73: Teacher Biz Blueprint Insights from a Student’s Perspective with Maria Golden
Maria Golden is an educator, reading specialist, and mother of three young children. After years of teaching young readers and writers, she noticed a strong need for developing early literacy skills during the early childhood years.
After becoming a stay-at-home mom, she still felt a strong pull towards working with young learners. While shuffling between diaper changes, naps, and play dates, she built a small business called Growing in Literacy, where she educates and empowers parents of young children in the development of early reading and writing skills. But, instead of using traditional worksheets and flashcards, she focuses on learning these skills through a play-based learning approach while also educating parents about the importance of early literacy skills.
Maria candidly shares her journey of feeling unfulfilled in her teaching career and her struggles during the transition to an online business. Hear how she overcame the struggles by finding clarity and support through the Teacher Biz Blueprint, which helped her reduce distractions and focus her vision. The conversation highlights the value of community and structured guidance, with Maria now leading weekly TBB tech support calls. If you’re feeling stuck, Maria’s story might be the nudge you need to move forward with confidence!
Key Takeaways:
- (03:00) Starting an online business; challenges and frustrations
- (08:55) Finding clarity and direction
- (11:25) Maria’s experience with TBB
- (14:30) The TBB community
- (17:40) Exciting new additions to the program
- (19:05) Overcoming tech challenges
- (21:35) Advice for new online business owners
Connect with Maria Golden: growinginliteracy.com
TEACHER BIZ BLUEPRINT → teacherbiz.com/blueprint
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Teacher Biz Breakthrough: Maria Golden’s Inspirational Success Story
On the latest episode of the Teacher Biz Podcast, Heather sits down with Maria Golden, an inspiring teacher who successfully transitioned from the traditional classroom to running her own online business focused on literacy.
Maria shares her journey of finding purpose, clarity, and success with the help of Heather’s Teacher Biz Blueprint program.
From Classroom Struggles to New Opportunities
Maria’s journey began in a classroom where she experienced a particularly challenging year.
Pregnant with her second child and struggling with the demands of teaching, Maria realized she needed a change. Deciding to stay home with her children opened a door to new opportunities she hadn’t previously considered.
“I was thinking about the ways that I could still feel purposeful while staying home with my kids,” Maria said. Leveraging her skills as a reading specialist, she envisioned helping parents teach their children basic reading skills, but she lacked a clear path to make this vision a reality.
The Early Years: Spinning Wheels and Seeking Clarity
For two years, Maria dabbled in various online ventures—running a blog, conducting online teaching sessions, and doing some copy editing.
Despite her efforts, she felt frustrated and lost in a sea of endless tasks and possibilities. It was during this time she stumbled across a Facebook ad for Teacher Biz Blueprint, Heather’s program designed to guide teachers in creating successful online businesses.
The shift was almost instantaneous. “It was like puzzle pieces finally connecting,” Maria recalled, emphasizing how Heather’s clear path and structured guidance eliminated the overwhelming noise and confusion.
The Magic of Clarity and Community
One of the most transformative aspects of Maria’s journey with Teacher Biz Blueprint was the clarity it provided. With a clear vision in mind, Maria could articulate her business goals for the first time. “I knew that I wanted to have an online business to help parents with young preschool children develop early reading skills,” she said.
Heather’s approach stands out by offering a comprehensive, step-by-step blueprint that extends beyond initial business setup to future growth.
This structured guidance helped Maria and others like her navigate the complex world of online business without getting overwhelmed by the plethora of information available online.
Additionally, the supportive community within Teacher Biz Blueprint played a crucial role. Maria highlighted the positivity and readiness to assist that defined the group.
Engaging with people who understood her aspirations and challenges made a significant difference in her journey. “It was such a wonderful community of everybody supporting each other and working towards very similar goals,” she said.
Technical Support: A Game Changer
Recognizing the common struggle with tech-related issues, Heather introduced weekly tech calls, facilitated by Maria.
This initiative aims to help students navigate technical hurdles, reinforcing the program’s commitment to comprehensive support.
Maria’s hands-on experience and familiarity with the challenges faced by new online entrepreneurs make these sessions incredibly valuable.
Listening to Your Community and Evolving
As Maria’s business, Growing in Literacy, continues to evolve, she underscores the importance of listening to her community. Her latest project, “Adventures in the Alphabet,” emerged from parent feedback requesting more printable and interactive early literacy resources.
This responsiveness not only ensures her offerings are valuable but also strengthens her connection with her audience.
Advice for Aspiring Teacherpreneurs
For teachers considering a transition to the online business world, Maria offers two pieces of advice: find a community that understands your journey and keep moving forward despite challenges.
“Nothing worth having happens without any trouble at all,” she noted. This persistence, coupled with the right support network, can help teachers navigate the shift successfully.
Maria’s journey from feeling trapped in a traditional classroom to leading a fulfilling, impactful online business is a testament to the possibilities that lie beyond the conventional teaching roles. Programs like Teacher Biz Blueprint offer the structured guidance and supportive communities that can make these transitions smoother and more effective.
If you’re feeling inspired by Maria’s story and considering embarking on your own online business journey, check out Heather’s Teacher Biz Blueprint.