Taking the Leap From Teacher Side-Hustle to Full-Time Business Owner with Amy Porterfield

Kirsten 0:00

And the thing is, I was good at having a boss I liked that paycheck every other week. I like to have benefits. I liked the security I felt comfortable in that atmosphere. And I knew how to climb the corporate ladder. So I loved all the promotions and awards I would get in the recognition. However, in this meeting, I sat there and thought one thing I do not have is freedom. I don't get to work when I want to work where I want to work how I want to work. I've always been on someone else's time or someone else's dime. And I thought I want something bigger and better for my life.

You're listening to the creative teacher podcast, a show for busy teachers looking for ways to engage, inspire and make an impact in their teacher businesses. I'm Kiersten, a teacher business owner who is all about simple and actionable tips, strategies and resources that result in wins, big or small. If you're looking for that extra spark of creativity, you've come to the right place. Let's dive in together.

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I see many posts from teacher sellers about how nervous they are about leaving the classroom to work on a TPT store full time or some type of teacher business full time. And it is a very scary thought to leave the consistency of teaching and going all in on a business you're not sure it will last. I am so so excited to share that I had the opportunity to interview a special guest online marketing expert and CEO of a multimillion dollar business. Amy Porterfield Yes, the Amy Porterfield. Today you'll hear us chat about the steps you can take to leave the classroom and turn your TPT side hustle into a full time teacher business.

13 years ago, Amy Porterfield found herself sitting in a boardroom with a group of the internet's top marketers, all men and all making their own rules and harnessing the power of digital marketing to build businesses that allowed them the freedom to live as few can. It was at this moment that she realized there was another way, a way to sidestep being overlooked and overworked and step into being her own boss. That moment changed everything and propelled Amy into a path that's letter to the place where she's now the one teaching others how to build an online business that fuels their wildest dreams. She's known for her actionable step by step approach to teaching and she stands apart from other educators in the online marketing space. She has helped me immensely has I have, you know, had the courage to leave the classroom on my own. And really understanding the ins and outs of online marketing in general, I really could not have done a lot of this without her. So I hope you enjoy this amazing interview that I had with Amy.

All right, we have a special guest on the creative teacher podcast, and that is Amy Porterfield. Welcome.

Amy 5:29

Well, hello, there. Thanks so much for having me.

Kirsten 5:31

Yes. So I just wanted, there's so much I want to ask you. But I know for this topic, I think it's so important with all the teachers that are still in the classroom, and maybe they're itching for something more. And you know, maybe there's something outside of those classroom walls that are for them. So I want to do I wanted you to kind of speak on your story, and just tell us how you knew your cause, you know, you were in the corporate world working a nine to five job. How did you know that wasn't cutting it for you? Did you ever feel like okay, I'm just gonna quit like, did you ever feel ready? And what are some of those steps to creating an exit strategy if you're kind of like one foot out the door? Looking for something different?

Amy 6:17

Okay, so first, I have to say, when I saw that I got to talk to teachers. Today, I was so happy. My sister who's two years older than me has been a teacher, for as long as I can remember. And my niece is studying to be a teacher. So it runs deep in our family. It is it's also I've seen the ups and downs. And I've been talking to my sister for years, she's my sister is not the entrepreneurial type. So I'll start out by saying people that are listening, now, you are the entrepreneurial type, or you would never be listening to this right now. So take it off the table that I can't be my own boss, or I can't ever go out on my own. If you're in it right now, there's something in you that's telling you, this is for me, so just want to put that out there because I've been talking to my sister for years, and it's just not her thing. So let's talk about this though.

I was in corporate since the day I left college. And so I've had a nine to five job for many, many years. It's been 14 years since I quit my last nine to five job. But I that's all I knew up until that point. And here's what happened. I was working for Tony Robbins, who's a big motivational speaker. I was there for almost seven years. And there was this one meeting. And this is basically the first chapter of my book. But there's this one meeting where he brought in a bunch of guys who had their own businesses, they were all men. And they were talking about how they do business online. And as they went around and talked about their different businesses, all I heard was freedom. Like in that moment, I realized I have never been free to call the shots in my own life.

I started with a really strict father who was his way or the highway. And then once I got into the work world, I always had bosses. And the thing is, I was good at having a boss, I liked that paycheck every other week, I like to have benefits. I liked the security, I felt comfortable in that atmosphere. And I knew how to climb the corporate ladder. So I loved all the promotions and awards I would get in the recognition.

However, in this meeting, I sat there and thought, one thing I do not have is freedom. I don't get to work when I want to work where I want to work, how I want to work, I've always been on someone else's time or someone else's dime. And I thought, I want something bigger and better for my life. So that was the moment that meeting changed everything for me because I thought, I'm going to figure out how to be my own boss. And at the time, I thought I have no skills to be an entrepreneur, but I'm going to figure it out all the same.

So you ask the question like how do you even get started by starting to think you're gonna go out on your own? The very first thing you want to think about is why? Why do you want to go out on your own? And although I don't love journaling, it is very powerful. So I tried to do it regularly. And when you journal, something like that, look at what's what's on the pages, but look what's between the lines, like what do you really ultimately want? And what do you ultimately not want? Get clear on your why, why you want to be your own boss, make your own money, do your own thing, because that's gonna keep you moving forward.

Another thing you got to do is choose an exit date. So if you start to think I really do want to leave teaching, I really want a different type of business, we've got to put a date on the calendar. So maybe it's the date that summer hits, and this is your last year of teaching. I feel like that would be make sense for teaching. We're going to put that date on a post it note and put it somewhere that you see it every single day. And when you see it, you ask yourself, what do I need to do today to move me closer to be ready for this date? Because you got to stick with that date no matter what. And so starting to do some small things moving forward makes all the difference.

Let me give you one more tip. Be careful who you tell not everybody deserves to know your dreams. And so if you Start Talking to other teachers and say, You know what, I think I'm going to do more on Teachers Pay Teachers, I think I'm going to go out on my own and the end of the school year, they're going to tell you all the reasons you should not do that. Because they're afraid to do that. They're not ready. So they're going to project everything on you. So when I decided to quit my job, I only told three people, my husband, my mom, who believes I could literally land on another planet and be fine. Like she believes I could do anything. And then my best friend, no one else got to know what I was doing until it started to come together. Because I knew if they told me all the reasons, it wouldn't work, I would have never left my job.

Kirsten: 10:36

Yes, I love that. And I know, like, there's a lot of Teachers Pay Teachers, Facebook groups, and there are some people who will ask those questions their full time in the classroom. And they're kind of trying to see the pros and cons. And so they're getting random advice from people on both different sides. And so it makes it even harder to make a decision. But I love those strategies that you have for, you know, if you're feeling like, I don't know if this is great, but going, you know, making it through the end of the year. I know I read in your book that you were 31 when you left? I am what I was also 31. So I'm like a year after. So, guys. Sweet. I don't know if it's not the sweet spot. But it's it's kind of ironic, I guess, in a way it is

Amy: 11:22

I had no idea that you left at the same age. Yeah, I'm seeing so many of my students are leaving in their 40s in their 50s. Yeah, so everyone listening 60s, I want you to know, it is never too late to create the kind of life that you want. And some people are listening right now. And they'll think, you know, I want my own thing. But I think I'm just gonna stay in my teaching career, even though maybe I'm not happy. I know, I'm not getting getting paid enough. This is the world has changed since COVID. With teaching and all of that. There's what if there's many reasons you're not happy, but you tell yourself, I'm going to stay here because it's comfortable. But then I'm just going to have a side gig a side hustle. And that is some people will thrive there. But here's what I want you to hear anyone listening right now, if you're staying in a job that doesn't bring you joy and happiness and freedom, life is too short to live a mediocre life, that this situation is never going to get better. And in fact, it's likely going to get worse because you're already not happy. So why not take the risk to go for something else that could literally change your business in your life? Like, do you feel like your life is changed dramatically since you made the leap?

Kirsten: 12:30

Absolutely, I don't think it took some situation. So I didn't like plan it out kind of it was I was on maternity leave. And I was like, in the midst of a newborn. And I was like, I cannot go back because I was planning to go back after six weeks of having a baby last year. So it was I was like, I can't do this. And so give my husband support. It was the was the best decision I've made. Like I can say a year from now, I'm so glad that I did not go back last year. So I think it is so worth it. I think in the respect of you get to kind of pave your own path and make decisions in your own business that you want. So it's there's so many good positives to it. Going into kind of you know, being your own boss. There are some things, you know, that are beneficial as far as having the benefits and all of that. But there's something in your book that you mentioned called boss traps. Yes. What are those? And can you give us a few examples of some boss traps that people might you know, experience?

Amy: 13:40

Yes. Okay. So to tell you about boss traps, I gotta back up a little bit and talk about this concept I talked about in the book called unboxing yourself, I'm bossing yourself is you literally believing that you are capable of leading yourself, meaning you do not need anybody else to lead. You don't need a boss in order to move forward and create something amazing. So you have to start thinking, Wait, I'm capable. I don't I know I've always had a boss all my life. But I don't need that in order to create what I want. So we talk a lot about unboxing. And how to do that because I didn't know anything different than having a boss for so many years. But fast forward to having boss traps, that means that you've gone out on your own. So anyone listening that plans to go out on their own, this is going to happen to you. You go out on your own. And let's say you're working with clients, maybe you do coaching, consulting, group training, whatever you want to do, it's very easy to act like an employee. And what that means is that you have these clients or customers or students telling you what they want, and you become a Yes girl. Yes, I could do that. Yes, I'll take that on. Yes. And all of a sudden you realize, wait a second, I still have bosses, I'm letting my clients my students, my teachers, I mean, my my customers teach treat me like I am their employee. So you have to break that meant Tality of being led so that you can lead yourself. So that's one thing I know all the boss drops because I live them. I literally went from one big boss Tony Robbins to like eight mini bosses, my, my clients bossing me around. So I know what it looks like to just go right back into that. Another boss trap is thinking you need a man. Now this is a sensitive topic. So let's just talk about it really quickly. I was in a room full of women that were venturing out to be entrepreneurs. And I said, there are many boss traps, one being thinking you need a man in order to survive. And I said a lot of women think this. And then I raised my hand, I'm on stage. But I raised my hand. And I said, including this girl here, I've always believed that I needed a man to help me. There's this chapter in the book that I did not want to tell the story around how in the middle of my business, I took a business partner gave him 50% of my business, because I thought this is hard. And I need a man in case it doesn't work and I can fall back on him. This was like when my business was almost making a million dollars. Wow. And so it's very normal to think you need somebody else to help you, whether it be a man or a partner or whatever, which is absolutely not true. And another thing I want to point out is that sometimes this doesn't happen for every woman. But if your husband's making more money than you, you get comfortable thinking, Well, I don't really have to make this business really work. I mean, we're being provided for and your husband making more money than you can actually be a boss trap. Because you think well, I could just dabble. I don't want any woman dabbling, I want you to go full force and say what I'm creating today might look small, but 510 years from now it's gonna blow my mind. So I'm going all in. So these boss traps keep you playing small and acting as though you work for somebody else, which absolutely does not need to be your truth.

Yes, I love that all those points that you touched on, even with you know, the husband that might be making more just still go, you know, not just kind of like, Oh, it's okay, I don't have to work as much or, you know, I can just dabble and see what happens like really going into it. Like all in just an even if it's maybe not as much right now you never know what can happen down the line. So I love those tips that you have. I also wanted to kind of circle back as far as you mentioned, the benefits, you know, we love stability. Of course, I'm one who I'm a creature of habit like i It scares me to do something out of the norm. That's not on my tangible schedule. So I know as teachers, it can be hard to leave, you know, the pensions and the benefits that you get being a teacher. Do you have any strategies for dealing with money anxiety, as far as maybe, you know, you really want to have an exit date, you want to post that sticky note, but you're like, I have no, I have no cushion to fall back on. If it doesn't work out. What are some strategies you have as far as money anxiety,

my most favorite strategy is to start a side hustle. And a side hustle could look as simple as you are starting to sell on Teachers Pay Teachers, you're just doing a little bit each night or in the morning or on the weekends when you have some time. Or you know, you have to make the time because you likely cannot find it easily, right. But it's starting a side hustle just to see what you're made of bringing in just a little we're not looking to totally wipe out your teaching salary right away. But bringing in a little extra money with the side hustle will start to give you the courage to keep trying out new things to keep putting yourself out there. So one of the ways that we combat money anxiety in the book is to say, first of all, you don't need to leave your job tomorrow, we're going to have a runway number two, you can start making money while you're still in that nine to five job. And number three, get really clear on how much money you do need to make that first year, you likely don't need to make as much as you're making as a teacher. And I'd really love for you to give yourself a little bit of wiggle room to figure things out experiment, try new things. And so getting really clear on how much money do you really need to make and then going after that the first year could change things dramatically. So these little things can actually build your runway to leaving.

Kirsten: 19:16

I love that. That's great advice. And it kind of, you know, kind of helps alleviate any any anxiety about like, Okay, do I need to leave like at the end of December like you can plan it. It's it's really individualized baby based on anybody. So you know, and their situation. So true. Yes. So my other question I have for you as far as if a teacher, they're in the classroom or they might, you know, think about starting a store on Teachers Pay Teachers or even just a teacher business, maybe not even Teachers Pay Teachers, but if they have some type of business idea, or they you know, work on the side right now, how can they turn that into a full time you No bonafide all all are all in online business. What are the first steps they could take?

Amy: 20:06

I love this question. And the reason I love it is because I wrote this book because I wish I had it. When I was first starting out. I didn't know how to grow an email list, I didn't know how to create content. I didn't know where to get started with a website. And these are so many I didn't know how to use social media to grow a business. These are so many things that we do need to figure out as we go. You don't have to have it all figured out before you quit. Oh, let's take a pause real fast. You will not have it all figured out the day you quit. I drove away from the San Diego offices for Tony Robbins thinking, what am I doing? Like, I don't even know how to do this. But I had a desire more than anything to be my own boss, I was so tired of being told what to do, when to do it or how to do it. So my freedom my why would I wanted the freedom push me forward. So first of all, we're not going to have it all figured out. But at the same time, there's things that you can do. So in the book, I kind of outline one of my most favorite things to start with is let's say you have an idea of what you might want to create, whether it's Teachers Pay Teachers, or it's something totally different. Maybe you want to create a special mastermind around a very specific topic, like teaching math to second graders, I have a student who is a millionaire, because she started out with creating content for second grade teachers on teaching math, like that's how she got started. So I'm using a very real example. But however you want to get started, we've got to start putting some content out there. And by that, I mean posting on social media, maybe maybe maybe starting a podcast or doing a video once a week and posting it or start doing some live q&a is online. I'm well aware going live online or posting video online is very scary. When I still was in my nine to five job, I never had to get on video. That was nothing I ever had to do. When I went out on my own. I knew I had to start making some videos and putting content out there. So I made a bunch of videos like every day. And one day my husband came to me and he said, I see you making these videos. I do not see them anywhere online. They're not on YouTube, they're not on your social. What are you doing with these videos? And I said, well, first of all, I'm self conscious of how I look at my weight has gone up and down throughout the years. So when I'm heavier, I feel very self conscious. So I said I'm self conscious about how I look on video. But I said number two, I'm so nervous about like, what are my old co workers going to say about me? What would my boss Tony Robbins, what is he going to say when he sees these videos? Like Who does she think she is she doesn't know this stuff. So I was so scared about what everyone was going to say. And two things. Number one, my husband said babe, I love you so much. But I gotta give you some tough love. They're not caring, they don't care. They're not watching, they're dealing with their own lives, they got their own things to deal with. You think everybody is looking as harsh as you are, you're the one being harder on yourself than anyone else. And then number two, my good friend Jasmine said they paying the bills. So if you're not paying my bills, you do not get an opinion about what I do in my business. So those two things have really pulled me through.

Kirsten: 23:09

I love that. And it's so relatable as far as you know, even now I like on my personal Facebook page where you know, my teacher friends and I were all boyfriends. Right, exactly. I'm like, Ah, this is so embarrassing, but you know, they're not the ones paying the bills. That's so true. I mean, just you got to do what you got to do as far as you know, making this work for you and your family. And you know, there's there's so much that can come out. And I love how your book really guides you step by step literally from start to finish on how you get from being full time in the classroom, to actually you know, having content out consistently and all of the website, social media, even all that stuff. I love how you package it all together in your book.

Amy: 23:54

Oh, I so appreciate you saying that I wanted to guidebook. I didn't just want to say, find the courage to quit your job and do these exercises to get your head in the game. Like there's some of that for sure. Because mindset is everything to entrepreneurship. But the bulk of the book is here is how you do it.

Kirsten: 24:12

Yeah, you lay it out. So great.

Amy: 24:16

Yeah, so important. Yes.

Kirsten: 24:17

All right. Well, my last question is just a quick, you know, to close this interview out, if you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of business advice. What would it be and why? If you were you know, in your shoes when you left at 31 What would you give yourself? What advice would you give yourself?

Amy: 24:38

I love this like there's so much advice. I know you said one but I got to touch on a few quick things. Number one, I wish I could tell myself, whatever you're going to do in that first year of being in your own business and being your own boss that first year does not define you it's not everything it doesn't like extend 15 years later. Any decision you make then is going to matter. 15 years from now it actually He doesn't allow yourself to take risks, make new decisions, mess up, crash and burn a bunch of times, because it literally is going to make you into the entrepreneur you need to be. So don't take everything. So seriously, everything you do is not set in stone in the first few years of being your own boss. That's something that I wish I knew. And the second thing is find your people find find your community online, every single day, there's two girls that I send voice text to where I talk about my business with them, like, here's what worked today, here's where I'm struggling, do you have a recommendation for this, I don't have tons of friends. But I do have a small group of women that I can count on. I can't imagine going through entrepreneurship without that. So people that are in your community, you know, if you're listening, find somebody else who you can kind of pitch and catch with, because it can be lonely. My niece is thinking about working with me, instead of becoming a teacher, she's thinking about coming into my business. And for the record, I'm not pressuring her, because if her calling is to be a teacher, I want her to do it. But she said auntie, one thing I'm a little bit nervous about is I'm in a classroom, I love to be around people I like to pitch and catch in a real environment. And I told her being an entrepreneur is very different. You are alone. Now you can create communities online, get on Zoom like we are now but it's not the same, not the same. So you have to find your community, find your people so that you feel as though you're in community every day. And I really never feel alone in my business because of that.

Kirsten: 26:29

I love that. I personally, you know, I'm an introvert, I'm an I would say I'm an extroverted introvert, I can do the whole classroom thing, you know, be with my students, all of that. And then I come home, I need to decompress. So, being an entrepreneur actually has been beneficial to me. But I do totally agree with that. You still need to have some type of connection. Absolutely. It's so important. Yes. Well, Amy, thank you so much for being here on the podcast. I am so so lucky to have been able to interview you. So thank you so much

Amy: 27:03

lucky that you invited me here. Like I said in the beginning, I love teachers. So I hope this inspires so many to be their own bosses and, and make more money than they ever thought imaginable while changing the world. It's no big deal. So I really appreciate it. Thanks again.

Kirsten: 27:21

I loved being able to talk with Amy. It was such an amazing experience. She's truly an inspiration. And I also think that the book she wrote is so timely. With everything going on in the education space. We don't have to be delegated to a 25 year teaching career and feeling constantly overworked, underpaid, and going through the motions were meant for so much more. And we are meant to live a life where we can be flexible in what we do, so that we can be present in those moments that really should matter in our lives.

The Book Two Weeks Notice isn't a collection of vague business tips or impractical cliches, it's actually the exact opposite. It's a step by step blueprint to design your life for financial freedom, a flexible lifestyle and a major impact. Even if you don't have any idea how to get started. Don't have any advantages, or you don't have a secret bank account to serve as a backup on the surface. This is a book about building an online business. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll soon discover this is a book about defining what success looks like for you and taking action to make your version of the good life a reality. This book is perfect for you if you want to spend your precious time on projects, and creating resources that are genuinely exciting for you. You can't even remember the last time your principal or admin thanked you for a job well done. You want more to look forward to then being off for summer break or spring break or winter break. You would quit your job in a heartbeat if only you knew how. And you want to design your life instead of leaving it to someone else. Two Weeks Notice will be released tomorrow, February 21. Wherever you love to buy books. And I highly encourage you to pick up this read I had the opportunity to read this book in advance and it was absolutely amazing.

This is perfect for you if maybe you just have a business idea. You're thinking about starting a TPT store or you're looking for tips to grow and strengthen your TPT business and everything in between. You can check the link to two weeks notice in the show notes or you can also type it in on Amazon or wherever you like to buy books. All right, well, that is the end of this very special episode. I hope you have an amazing week.

Thanks for tuning in to the creative teacher podcast. If you enjoyed listening to today's episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review. I'd love to hear your feedback. You can also find me on Instagram at the southern teach. I cannot wait for you to join me in the next episode for more tips and inspiration. Have an amazing day.

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