57: Transforming a Passion Project into a Decade-Long Business with Linda Kardamis

Linda Kardamis taught middle school math before being led to become the founder of Teach 4 the Heart – a website centered on providing practical advice, encouragement, and support for Christian teachers.
As part of her calling to uplift educators everywhere, Linda has written three books: Create Your Dream Classroom, Take Heart & Teach, and Teach Uplifted. She is also the creator of online courses such as Classroom Management 101 and Teach Uplifted, and her Teach 4 the Heart podcast is enjoyed by educators nationwide.
All of Linda’s work and programs focus on her faith-based passion and calling to help teachers across the country and around the globe excel and thrive in their teaching adventures and careers. Linda and her husband Tim are raising their four children in northeast Ohio.
Linda shares her journey of starting and evolving her online business over the past 10 years. She emphasizes the importance of being passionate about your business to sustain motivation during challenging times.
She also provides actionable advice for teachers looking to follow a similar path, the challenges of creating physical and digital products, and effective marketing strategies, including leveraging Facebook ads and virtual summits.
Connect with Linda Kardamis:
- Podcast: teach4theheart.com/podcast/
- Planner: teach4theheart.com/planner
- Rise Up Summit (online summit): riseupchristianeducators.com/
- B2S CM webinar: teach4theheart.com/backtoschooltraining/
- Special BTS podcast episode about planner: youtube.com/watch?v=Rsj-s0qSOsE
Key Takeaways:
- (02:10) Linda’s journey from the classroom to the online space
- (06:20) Linda’s 10-year evolution of growing an online business
- (07:50) Digital vs. physical products
- (13:30) The Teach 4 the Heart podcast
- (15:00) Marketing strategies and finding customers
- (18:45) Virtual summits; advice for new business owners
Listen on:
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Turning Passion into Profit: Passion, Marketing, and Overcoming Challenges with Linda Kardamis
In this episode, Heather sat down with Linda Kardamis, an inspiring educator who transitioned from classroom teaching to running a successful online business.
Linda’s journey over the past decade offers a wealth of insights and practical advice for teachers considering a similar path.
Finding Fulfillment Beyond the Classroom
Linda began her career passionate about teaching but soon found herself feeling unfulfilled. This common predicament among educators led Linda to inadvertently start a business.
What began with an eBook and a blog post evolved into a digital course on classroom management, a product that initially sold 25 copies but eventually replaced her part-time income.
This initial success laid the foundation for Linda’s thriving business, proving that a passion project can indeed turn into a full-fledged career.
The Evolution of a Business
Linda’s business has continuously evolved over the past ten years. Her signature classroom management course has grown and adapted over time.
She underscores the importance of listening to your audience and iterating based on their feedback. One lesson she learned early on was the need for lesson plans in her planner – a feature she initially omitted.
By engaging with her target audience, Linda was able to refine her products to better meet their needs.
Passion: The Fuel for Your Entrepreneurial Journey
Heather and Linda emphasized the necessity of passion in sustaining motivation when starting a business. Linda pointed out, “You have to be ready for the challenges.”
Marketing, in particular, is as critical as creating the product.
Passion helps navigate these challenges, ensuring that the drive to help and create remains strong even when faced with obstacles.
Marketing Matters: From Offers to Ads
When it comes to marketing, Linda and Heather both highlighted the importance of having a compelling offer; the best product in the world won’t sell if it isn’t marketed effectively.
Linda relies heavily on Facebook Ads and organic social media, though she advises adaptability in the ever-changing digital landscape.
The effectiveness of platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok can fluctuate, requiring constant re-evaluation and adjustment.
The Power of Free Online Events
Linda emphasizes that merely having a free online event isn’t enough. The key is to communicate the clear benefits of attending.
This strategy has been crucial for her, particularly when promoting free classroom management webinars. Linda’s experience underscores the importance of clearly articulating the value proposition to engage your audience effectively.
The Challenges and Rewards of Selling Physical Products
Linda’s business isn’t limited to digital products; she has ventured into selling physical items such as planners for Christian teachers.
While physical products open new revenue streams and offer differentiation, they come with their own set of challenges, such as inventory costs and competition.
Nonetheless, the potential for creating unique, tangible items that cater specifically to niche audiences can make these hurdles worthwhile.
Leveraging Facebook Ads and Summits for Growth
Both Linda and Heather shared their experiences with Facebook Ads, which remain a primary acquisition channel.
Additionally, they discussed the value of running summits to grow email lists and generate leads. Although organizing a summit is labor-intensive, the benefits can be substantial in terms of lead generation and upsell conversions.
Linda’s story is a testament to what teachers can achieve beyond the classroom. By leveraging their skills, embracing passion projects, and mastering the art of marketing, educators can create impactful online businesses.