Deciding how to grow your tutoring business can feel daunting. In this episode, I share how I reframed my approach to business growth and money, shifting my focus from short-term comfort to long-term security.
I talk about making confident decisions, building a sustainable tutoring business, and creating growth that protects your future without compromising your values.
If you’re an education business owner ready to grow but unsure how, this episode will help you find clarity and direction.
Enjoy :-)
Sumantha
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👋🏽 Hello! I'm Sumantha McMahon, and I've supported over 100 tutors and education business owners.
As a teacher 'dropout' turned professional tutor, combined with my 20+ years as a business owner, I'm in it with you! Yes, I'm qualified too :-)
My training leans on tried-and-tested methods that are completely tailored to our niche.
Work with me to breathe life into YOUR definition of success:
High-touch 6-month programme for tutors who want to make their business more lucrative, in a sustainable way for the future, while protecting the impact they make.
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Sometimes, I share links to resources and apps that I recommend. They are all based on my experience - if I don't love them, I don't recommend them. In some cases, I earn a small commission for my recommendation, at no cost to you.
I couldn’t resist a little Romeo and Juliet style title, and today I want to tackle something that’s really difficult as a business owner — deciding whether to grow, how to grow, and in which direction.
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If we’re meeting for the first time, a huge welcome to the podcast. I’m Sumantha, and I specialise in helping tutors build sustainable, profitable businesses that give them options for the future without compromising the impact they make.
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This topic feels so hard for small business owners, especially if you’re running everything alone. There comes a point where you have to take a leap of faith and make brave decisions to grow.
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It’s difficult to know what the right decision is, and social media doesn’t help. One side tells you success means whatever makes you happy; the other says you must scale, hire a team, and build an asset. It’s confusing and overwhelming.
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It’s so easy to say, “I’m fine where I am; I’ll deal with growth later.” But lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on something many of my one-to-one clients have also been thinking about — how to protect the future.
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I remember entering teaching from the corporate world. My salary was low, I rented a room, and I worked in a pub to make ends meet. I constantly worried about paying my bills.
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Fast forward over a decade, I was earning triple that amount, yet I still felt the same anxiety. That was a lightbulb moment. The worry wasn’t about my income — it was about my mindset and beliefs around money and safety.
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I realised that unless I challenged my thoughts, I’d continue feeling unsafe no matter how much I earned. My unease came from fear about the future, not the present.
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At 43, I think a lot about future scenarios I can’t control. There’s also a 12-year age gap between my husband and me, which adds another layer to how I think about our timelines.
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I came to see that my questions about growth and income weren’t about now — they were about whether I’d built something that protects our future and gives me options.
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That realisation brought clarity. It’s not about asking, “Am I happy right now?” but rather, “Am I creating the future I want?”
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If you feel uneasy or lost, start by thinking about how you want your future to look and feel. Don’t worry about the “how” yet — focus on identifying what you actually want.
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Maybe you earn six figures but work unsustainably. Right now, it feels fine, but in the future, it may not. So make choices today that your future self will thank you for.
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This has become a big conversation in my one-to-one programme. The clients I work with all share one goal: they want to make their business more lucrative while protecting their future and maintaining quality for clients.
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During discovery calls, the most valuable conversations are about the future they want. That clarity helps shape decisions and next steps.
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So whether or not you work with me, think about your future without fear. Focus on what you want, not how you’ll get there. The “how” becomes easier once the destination is clear.
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No matter your age, defining how you want to feel is powerful. For me, it’s about feeling safe. That desire rarely changes, even if the details of life do.
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Once you know what you want, you can make clearer decisions about what to do now. Growth isn’t one-size-fits-all; success looks different for everyone.
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Some people want a team; others want a business they can sell. Some want to work solo but earn well with flexibility. All of these are valid if they align with your goals.
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The key is to create a win-win — something that serves you and your clients. If your clients are happy but your future self isn’t protected, that’s not truly success.
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And the reverse is also true. Making money but sacrificing quality or retention isn’t sustainable. We want long-term results, not constant hustle.
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Reputation is your most valuable currency. Growth should happen without compromising on the quality of what you offer. That’s how you attract clients naturally.
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To create this win-win, think about your offer suite — the set of services that feed into each other. A flagship offer supported by smaller, connected ones helps clients stay with you.
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This approach creates flexibility and sustainability. It reduces the need to constantly sell because your clients stay longer and engage at different stages of their journey.
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But the foundation for all of this is clarity on how you want to feel in the future. That’s what unlocks every strategic decision.
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Sometimes growth feels intimidating because we compare ourselves to others. We think, “That level of success isn’t for me.” I’ve felt that too.
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But when you focus on your own goals, it stops being about others. For me, feeling safe means aiming for steady, predictable growth rather than risky leaps.
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Still, every period of growth involves a leap of faith. You can’t grow without making brave choices, even if they feel uncomfortable.
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When my clients face these fears, I tell them what my coaches once told me — hand over your fears. Let someone support you while you focus on taking action.
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If you find yourself scared to make bold moves, remember that fear shouldn’t stop your future self from thriving. Find someone you trust to help you through it.
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That brings me to the question that unlocked another level of growth for me: “Why not now?”
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For years, my husband and I were trying to conceive, and I kept holding back, waiting for the perfect time. Once that chapter closed, I realised there was no reason to wait.
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I also caught myself thinking, “Who am I to do this?” But those fears were habits, not facts. Asking “Why not now?” changed everything.
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Saying yes to bold moves unlocked financial, personal, and professional growth. Investing in myself felt risky, but it paid off faster than I could have imagined.
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I learnt the power of going all in, rather than settling for second-best or playing small. That’s what true investment looks like.
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If you’ve stayed with me this far, I know something here has resonated. So ask yourself: what can you do now to start creating the future you want?
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Focus on how you want to feel. Don’t get lost in the “how.” There are always many ways to reach the same goal.
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Decide what you’re willing to do and what you’re not willing to do for that goal. Wrap your decisions in clear criteria and boundaries.
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And finally, if fear or hesitation has held you back, ask yourself again — why not now?
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Before you go, if you’re watching on YouTube, please subscribe. If you’re on Apple Podcasts, follow and leave a review. It helps me reach more tutors and education business owners. Thanks as always for listening, and you’ll hear from me on Wednesday.
