Episode Transcription

29: 'Teachers in Business Retreat' Guests Share Their Transformations and Goals

  
Hello, lovely lady. Welcome to Classroom to Business. The podcast designed specifically for teachers working to become successful businesswomen and creating financial freedom and lifestyle flexibility. I'm Kirsty Gibbs, business coach and mentor for educators and teachers just like you who are ready to step away from the classroom and create something more.

The Classroom to Business podcast is committed to helping you grow your business, break down those barriers to success and replace your teaching salary without having to work more hours. It's time for you to find freedom and start being your own boss so you can once again enjoy what you do and wake up each morning loving life.

Let's get into it.

All right. Today, I am super excited because I am coming to you from the beautiful Cabarita beach where I am running first ever teachers in business retreat. And I thought that I would bring you some of the guests who have been here this weekend to give you some insight as to what it's been like to be on this retreat, but also to share their wins, their biggest takeaways.

So that you can take these things into your own tutoring businesses. They're also going to be challenged by sharing their big, scary goals for 2024. So in a year's time, they're going to come back to this and be held accountable. And I encourage you to do the same thing. If you don't have goals for 2024, I encourage you to sit down.

After this podcast and think, where do you want your business to end up this time next year? So I would like to welcome my very first, um, business retreat guest, Kathy. Um, Kathy, do you want to tell us a little bit about yourself and your business? Yes. Hello. Thank you for having me on. I. My name is Cathy Norton.

I run a tutoring and reading intervention business in Ballarat, in Victoria, and I started my business Probably about 18 months ago now, it was probably February last year, and came from the classroom. Um, so I've been a teacher for about 15 years, and then I kind of became a little bit disillusioned in the last few years, and I thought maybe there's another way I can impact students.

So I decided to start my own tutoring business. Awesome. I think there are a lot of people who are in the situation that you, you were in as well. So, okay. It's been lots of fun. It's been so much fun. And you know. Those of you who are listening, if you are teachers, you know, we like to talk a lot. So there's been lots of laughs and lots of talking, but what would you say, uh, maybe one or two of your biggest takeaways from this weekend so far?

Well, so far this weekend, I've really got a lot more clarity in where I'm going for next year and the steps that I'm going to take to get there. Um, I'm not. that great at setting goals, to be honest, I, I might set them, but not really take the steps that are needed to, to achieve them. So the breaking it down this weekend has been really valuable.

So I, I've got that vision for next year. I know where I'm going and, and. The steps I need to take and also when I need to do that. And I'm sure Cassidy will be on to me about that. And I think that's one of the things is that, you know, a lot of the ladies actually commented, uh, one of them even said last night, you know, my husband said to me, you already know where you want your business to go.

You already know what you want to be doing. And she said, I do. But I don't know how to do it. And that seems to have been a common theme amongst everyone. And I know I'm like that myself as well. I know where I want to be in 12 months, but I don't stop to break it down into those actionable steps. And then, you know, like everybody's created an action plan, this.

This weekend where they've said, okay, that's the goal, but this is exactly what I need to focus on each month or each week to get there and taking the fluff away, like taking it all out and just this step, this step. And then, you know, even down to stop doing this because, you know, a lot of these things stop procrastinating.

Yeah, that's been a big, well, that's it. A lot of us spend so much time, yeah, procrastinating because we don't know what to do next. It's like report writing. We're always procrastinating. Yeah. So, okay. So. Can you share with us then what are your big goals for 2024 in your business? Yes. So my big goals, well, um, I'm currently doing one on one students.

So, which is, um, I thought that's the, would have been the best way to start out my business. When I started, I didn't really know which, um, what I was doing to be honest when I first started. Um, hence why I'm here. Um, but one of my goals for 2024 is switching my students to groups. So I didn't really know the best way to go about that, so, um, Kirsty's really given me that guidance this, this weekend to how to do that and the steps I need to take.

Um, also the scary thought of employing a staff member is another goal. Which, um, I've got the steps in place to be able to do that. And we've, I've had lots of great conversations with the ladies here that already have staff members working for them. So it's, it's just great to have, um, you know, have those conversations with other people that, um, are already doing it and have been doing it for a while.

And just. Getting a bit of insight into how they do that, and I'm going to think about moving to, well, I am,

I'm moving to a larger premises next year, which at the moment I'm, I've just had, I started in a small office in August. Um, And it's, it's quite small, so I'd really love a larger space to be able to expand my business. Prior to that, I was living out of my car and tutoring at, um, the family's home. So, you know, that, that's...

a bit difficult when I also live, I'm building a house at the moment. So I don't actually technically have a house to set up an office in. So it was great to have that space to say that that's my space and, you know, I can have an actual office to go to. People can come to me now and I don't have to live out of my car.

Which is great. And just on a side note, not actually living out of her car. Kathy's not I remember the first time. I'm not homeless. The first time that we had a call and Kathy told me she was living out of her car and I was trying to have a very Okay. Facial expression. I've not ever met somebody who's living out of their car.

I know it is very hard times at the moment, but no, she was working out of her car. Her whole work life was in her car. She was driving it around everywhere. So it literally felt like I was living out of my car. And when I say that, yes, we are living, we're building a house. So we're on a block of land in a caravan.

So it's very hard to manage. Um, you know, a big dog trying to run an office out of a small caravan, print things while the dog's tripping over the cord, just moving into the, yeah, into my office space was great. Yeah. So, um, yeah. So, and, but the goal is to move into an even bigger and larger space. So yeah.

Yeah. Um, and then I'm going to continue to build my brand and my reputation. So. Um, people are actually starting to hear about me, which is great. And word of mouth is so valuable. And I've had those. I've had parents come in who've told me that, Oh yeah, I've heard about your business and great things about it.

So, which I feel like saying really, um, but no, it's, um, yeah, it's been, it's great to actually start. To have that people have that awareness that I exist. So, yeah, yeah, which is exciting. So I'm going to continue to build that. Yeah, and all of those goals, they're the things, you know, we've been working on other things as well.

And a lot of hot seeds, a lot of questioning has happened this weekend. It's been fantastic. But. Kathy's now got an action plan where she knows exactly what to focus on every month. Mm-Hmm. Um, she's got the order in which she's, you know, trying to achieve each of these goals. So I'm really excited for you.

I think, you know, I'm excited. Yes. It's gonna be a really great year. Yeah. Um, and these goals are out there now. I know they're out there, they're on a podcast. Oh no. Please don't come back in 12.

So, um, if people would like to follow along with what you are doing in your business Yes. Where, what's your Instagram handle? Website? Yeah. Where can they find you? So my website is rise up education.com au and on my socials, my Instagram is Rise Up Education 2022 being the year that I started. My business.

Um, and on Facebook, the same, it's um, Rise of Education 22. Awesome. Yeah. Cool. Thank you so much. Thank you. It's been great. And I highly recommend anyone out there listening to come to the, if, You have another one of these retreats. It's definitely worthwhile. There will definitely be some more and I think after the conversations we had last night, um, they're gonna sell pretty quickly.

It's so much fun. I want to book in for next year already. Everyone's keen to come back, so that's great feedback. Yeah, thank you.

Alright, so next up I have Kim. Now Kim is at a different stage to all of our other guests. She is brand new and starting her own business. Literally, as we speak, so Kim, tell me a little bit about you and what you want your business to be and maybe how you got here. How I got here. Thanks, Kirsty. Um, well, I'm a classroom teacher.

I teach in the early years. I came to teaching later in life. I went and retrained as a teacher after, um, a career in the travel industry of all things. Um, but I always wanted to be a teacher. And I felt after a long break at home with my children, um, that it was a great career change to make, um, and worked in well with children.

So I, uh, landed my dream job, um, at a beautiful school. And, uh, I've been there for seven years. Um, but I did start. questioning things during my time teaching and wondered what was happening with these children that I saw had literacy gaps and wondered what, what are we really doing to help these children?

And just started to question a few of the strategies and the support and the programs that. Learning support we're using and, um, sort of seeing these kids that had been in learning support for a long time, but still weren't making any progress. Uh, then we had the, we had COVID. And I had a bit of time then downtime to start, start doing some research.

Your eyes were open. , my eyes were opened. Um, and unfortunately we weren't receiving much, um, professional development at school. And so I started looking myself. Mm-Hmm, . And then that took me down a whole rabbit. Warren of, uh, things that I hadn't learned about at university, I spoke to my colleagues about and they were like, oh, oh, we don't, we don't talk about that here.

Right? And I was like, oh, okay. This is weird. So, um, yeah, I guess I just started making me feel uncomfortable and I wasn't, um, I realized that. There was this other world out there that I didn't know about before, and the more I researched, the more, um, I guess, uh, dissatisfied I became at school, and that school wasn't giving answers, and I felt like, I was being fobbed off and that type of thing.

So I, I'm listening to podcasts and, and then that's actually how I found you on your podcast. And I was so excited because a lot of the content comes from America. And then I found you and I saw your beautiful face and I'm like, Oh, this girl, She's nearby me. She, well, first of all, she's in Australia. Yeah.

And then not only she's local, like one hour from me. So I was, okay, I need to make contact. And, and then once we had a chat, I realized, wow, I feel like I'm finding. Other people that are talking about the same things that I've been thinking and feeling. So it was really exciting going down that road. Yeah, it's even last night one of the ladies said, you know, I was a little bit nervous to come because You know, I don't really have a problem with meeting new people, but I just didn't know.

I've never done anything like this before. And she said, I feel like I've found my people. Like, you know, it's, it's yes. We're women. Yes. Most of us are moms. Yes. We're teachers, but then there's just something. Extra, you know, there's something different to that next level where there are so many things that we understand and click on and yeah, it's been really nice.

I think that's been one of the best things about the weekend. It's been that interaction with everybody. Absolutely. It's just been fantastic. Yeah. Like I absolutely, I would say that I found my tribe. Yeah. Awesome. Um, we speak the same language. Yeah. We can talk. Jargon, and we actually know what one another are talking about with throwing out names.

Oh, yes, I've heard that person have read what they wrote about this. So it's fantastic. I guess also just being able to speak freely and not feeling guarded about, Oh, I've got to be careful who I'm saying that in front of or. Yeah. So, um, just also hearing other people's stories. and their backgrounds. I think a lot of us, there's a lot of similarities in our stories and people feeling a little bit, um, I guess disenfranchised Yes.

From, um, maybe being in a school environment, not all schools, but yeah. Um, a bit frustrated with the system and the, um, schools perhaps not embracing change as quickly as, as we would like. Mm-Hmm. . And I guess that has also led to where I came to the decision to take some time out from my teaching role in a classroom and branching out to start my own tutoring business.

And I feel like I'm taking this huge leap of faith. Um, but I feel like I've got no choice. It's almost like an ethical dilemma for me. I wanted... I want to make a difference. I came across this saying, it said when you know better, you do better. Yes, love that. I can't go back and and read what I've read. I can't, I've read the research now.

I can't ignore the research. I've listened to podcasts. I've heard examples. I've spoken to parents of children who are having reading difficulties. I'm looking at NAPLAN results. I'm, it's all coming together. I've got this understanding and I can't turn back now and ignore it. And for me, Time in my life.

I was like, it's time for me to make a difference and show how I can make a difference. So, and I think being here on this retreat and being able to speak to other women who have done it, who have taken that leap of faith and know that it's working. Yeah. Um, I think that's my. The greatest takeout for me.

Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Just seeing other people who are already being successful at this, it's empowering, isn't it? Absolutely. And but also to know that, you know, the challenges that you feel you might be having now or the questions they also felt and they also experienced, but look where they are now.

You know? Absolutely. It's really interesting because I was just saying before that sometimes people think I don't need coaching. I don't need that because I already know where I'm going or I know what I'm doing, but it's a next level of knowledge and support and empowerment. When you are surrounded by other people who are doing what you want to do.

Absolutely. And I think, um, I mean, teachers are clever people and we have to think on our feet and change things quickly all the time. Um, but I would be lying if I didn't say it's been a steep learning curve. Um, there's the technology, the. Apps. I mean, there's just things out there that I didn't know existed.

And just on a side note, just for a minute, Kim is literally researching everything. So she's going very, you know, deep diving into it. She's been extremely thorough. Um, So it's, it's quite impressive, actually, I do. I am known for my research. I am a researcher, but yes, sometimes you do need to know when you pull that up and say, you just have to make a decision.

And I, I think that's the thing. And I think you acknowledge this all the time that most of the people you work with. Great at the teaching side of it. Don't, don't worry too much about that, but the business side of it. And I think that's where you come in, Kirstie. Cause there's just things I'm like, help.

I just need you to help me make a decision. I can't. I can reread this a thousand times, but it's not changing. I just need someone and I was actually joking to the ladies before and I said, I feel like I'm the kid on the edge of the swimming pool and I'm dipping my toe in and it's cold and I just need someone to go, you know what, in you go and give me a push.

So we sort of, I don't know if that's a good analogy or not. Yeah, I love that. Well, hopefully we've given you a loving, gentle push in this week. Absolutely. You know, once you're in the water, you always love it, you know. I really, I really like that analogy. So after everything that we've done, um, so far this weekend, what would be your goals for 2024?

My big goals for 2024 is, um.

My launch, but having people booked in prior to the launch, but still having kind of like a grand opening, um, a lot of, um, spreading the word of community awareness that. I'm aware that I exist and awareness of what I do, and I would really like to start, um, making that awareness of I am a specialist in my area and But trying to become that go to person that, um, and I know just even through people like your hairdresser, people like that going, Oh, I know a girl that can help with that.

Yeah. Um, so that community awareness, um, then I will, uh, really then be working on building my numbers. Um, I mean, eventually, I really want to be building, so I have numbers to replace my current teacher salary. Yes. I mean, I it would be great if I could aim for that towards the end of the year. 20, 20, 24.

Yeah. Um, I guess if I can at least cover all my expenses in my first year of business, then, you know, that I think that's probably an achievable goal. And, um, you know, it's from there. Hopefully, um, hopefully if I, if I met that goal, then it would be onwards and upwards from there. And I think. Um, hopefully you can't hear all the sorts of noise that's going on.

I'm not sure how well this recording is, um, going to turn out today because we are literally coming to you from one of the bedrooms with the doors closed and everyone's having a grand old time out there. It sounds like they're not working very hard to be honest, I think they've switched into lunch mode.

Um, But I, you know, I think for you, it's been particularly good because like you said, you've been able to learn from other people, but there is so much when you start a business and it is so overwhelming to the point where some people just throw their hands up and they give up, um, and then on the other side of it, some people dive straight into offering a service without actually setting up the business foundations.

And what you're doing now is. Exactly what I would encourage anyone to do is focusing on the business first so that you've got all of these foundations set up so you've got systems, you've got processes, you've got goals, you've got your onboarding automated. Everything is there. So when you start to build those.

Um, student numbers, you're not having to try and scramble and think, Oh my gosh, I need more time to do this. And I don't have time to do this. And now I want to bring a staff member on, but I can't even fit that into my, my schedule. Absolutely. Um, and it's really interesting because some of the ladies here are the opposite.

Their businesses are quite established and they don't have time for these things. So it's, you know, Even though you're just starting out, there's so much that people can learn from you and your situation as well. Because I think you're doing it the right way. Yes. Um, you're not just focusing on trying to make money first.

And you know exactly what you need to focus on next year to get those goals. Absolutely. So, yeah. So, thank you so much for your time today. Thank you. Great to have you on the podcast and really great to have you here at The Retreat as well. Thank you. It's been absolutely a blast. We've had such a great time.

So, thank you. My pleasure.

Okay. Next up, we've got Amy. Kerry, tell me a little bit more about your business. So my business is called Bright Minds Co and my background is in gifted ed. I'm really quite passionate about helping gifted kids and their families to navigate their way through the education system because you wouldn't think it, but for gifted kids, it can be a bit of a tricky thing to do and it can place a fair bit of strain on families.

Um, we don't just provide tutors. We provide experts, which is in line with gifted education. Whether that's a primary school teacher with gifted qualifications, or we even have professors from universities working for us, we've got what people need to Help the gifted kids get the education and the stimulation that they need.

Um, we work with a model that takes parents and students through assessments that let them know, um, what they need to do. So whether it is some one on one work that they need, or if they need to go see, work straight to one of our mentors or into the enrichment groups that we run, run as well. Um, so yeah, that's what we do.

Love it. As for those of you who do know, my eldest NAPLAN results came back earlier this year, and they were like off the charts. And I just thought, Oh, she works hard. You know, she listens in class. And, um, one of my other friends said, no, no, no, she's. She's gifted. And it was funny because when she said that to me, I couldn't repeat that publicly because I felt like I was big noting myself or my kid and, you know, up myself kind of thing, like, as if your child is gifted.

It's a bad word for a start. Yes. We need to change the wording around it. Yeah. For now, that's the word that we need to work with. Yes. And there's an element, I think, in Australia, because we have such Tall Poppy Syndrome happens in our culture. Um, there is an element of what if your kid was in learning support, you could happily talk about that on the background, but if your child is gifted and needs extra, um, you're then bragging.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. That's, yeah. I felt silly. So when I heard about your services, I was just super excited because I thought there's nothing like this. You know, when I, when, when my friend raised this to me and sort of said, you know, she will have struggles. Not the struggles that yes, somebody in learning support might have, she'll have other struggles and I had no idea and even now, I'm sort of learning and yet I don't know where to go to find out this extra information.

And so I think your services are fantastic and really unique and specialized. So, um. So I wanted to jump on and ask you today, what are maybe one or two of your biggest takeaways from this weekend being here on the retreat? First of all, thank you for having me. It's been incredible. Um, but yeah, so the biggest takeaway for me was to own my specialty to stop diluting it and watering it down with just normal tutoring and own my specialty and use that as my point of difference in the market, um, and work where I'm passionate.

Um, Kirstie, you've helped me see the uniqueness of what I do and that what we're offering is quite different to what anyone else is offering. Um, but it also has helped me to prioritize exactly what I need to do, which is where I get in a muddle because I've got so many ideas and I need, I just needed help to plan out the steps of what I needed to do.

Um, and kind of when, when is hard for me and things probably won't happen when I write them down, but to have a list of priorities and to know what I need to do is. Yeah. It's super helpful for getting ready for next year when interesting things are happening. Yeah. And that's it. It's, it's so much about that focus because there are so many things that we can do in and on our businesses.

And, you know, you just have to pop on social media to see somebody else, what they're doing in their business to be thinking, Oh, should, should I be doing what they're doing? And then. You're hearing, you know, business coach, um, promoting X, Y, and Zed thinking, Oh, maybe I need to be doing that course and be doing that as well.

But if you really come back to exactly what we've done this weekend and what are you wanting? Like, it's so personalized. Like this weekend, we've looked at our values, our mission statement, our vision statement. We've dissected everything that we're trying to create and started from scratch to build up the Like you said, the step by step things to get us to our goals for next year.

Um, and I'm really excited for what you've got in store, Nick. I'm really, really excited because, um, you know, like this weekend has been a lot of, um, like I said before, a lot of hot seating, a lot of questions. Like even when we went to dinner last night, we're still sitting there talking about business.

Yeah. Um, it's just been super immersive. Um, but I've been working with each of the ladies one on one as well throughout the weekend to plan. Okay. And then it can look like this and then it can look like this. And hopefully, you know, it's that extra excitement and yes, it's more ideas, but it's ideas on exactly what you're trying to still achieve from professionals that are in exactly the same boat as you and get the overwhelm that you can feel.

Um, and I don't know, I feel like I found my tribe here. I really have connected with everyone at quite a deep level, which I wasn't expecting. I was expecting to just show up and work on my business. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh,

okay. What are your goals for 2024? Let's put them out there. Okay. So, um, I'm going to add a manager to my business because we're at that point where I have perfect candidate with the right qualifications and she's ready to go. So I've been plotting out how and what I need to do. to get in place to bring her on.

So that's beneficial for me and the business and her. Um, I need to organize my website to match my processes. And what's been really good is that you've helped me map out my processes and put them into a nice little kind of flow diagram that is very easy to understand. And I think parents will appreciate.

Um, So, yeah, that, so the client experience there is what I'm talking about. Um, I need to man up and get on some podcasts. ? Yes. This is my first, this my first podcast. I, I said to Carrie, I think that you need to get on some podcasts. And then I woke up this morning and I said, right, everyone's my podcast today,

So here we're here, we're . Um, so yeah, to raise brand awareness and awareness of.

Um, but also like the big one that quite scares me is to be running my own podcast, um, in, you know, I don't know, maybe halfway through next year. So those are my big goals for next year. Watch this space. I can't wait. And again, Everybody's goals are quite different, which has been really cool because, you know, you would think, oh, you're in business, everyone's just doing the same thing, but they're not.

And like you've talked about, it is so much about your superpower, your niche and owning that and focusing on that. But then even how you're offering your services, like what are you actually doing, um, within your business to help the families that you're helping? Yeah. Yeah. So because of all of those things.

The goals that have come out, the back end of that, have all been really different and really, really exciting. And they're not what I wrote down when I first started. Oh wow, right. They've changed throughout the weekend. Perfect. That's so good. Can I go? Cool. Thank you so much for coming on and being on your first ever podcast.

So proud of you. And um, coming along to the retreat, it's been really, really great having you here. Oh, it's been wonderful being here. Thank you guys. Okay. Next up we have Christine. Now Christine is super excited to be here chatting with me today, but I'm super excited to have her because she is actually, she has a different background.

So Christine is still working. Alongside, you know, doing a lot of what we are doing, I guess, in our tutoring businesses. However, she is a speechy. So it's been really great to have Christine here this weekend and just be working with her in general because she brings a different perspective to things.

She brings extra and new challenges to things just because of the way the different businesses run. But I let her tell me a little bit more about her business. Okay, so Think Place Say is my business. It's a speech pathology center on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. And we work with kids all the way from two years old up to 20 ish years old.

We work on not just literacy, we work on language development, speech development, alternative communication, and we work a lot with kids with ADHD and autism. It's been really good actually because Like I was saying before, a lot of the conversations this weekend, because, um, a lot of people here are tutors or teachers or in that education industry.

Yes, there's been a lot of conversations about business, obviously, because that's what we're here for. But there have been a lot of conversations. around literacy, um, and intervention. So it's been really great to have Christine to, you know, hear that next level perspective and insight on things that, you know, we don't necessarily see in the classroom.

Um, so, For the time, you know, that we've been here, there's been lots of laughs, there's been lots of delicious food, uh, maybe a little bit of wine here and there, responsible of course, but what have been some of your biggest takeaways for this weekend? One of the things I think has been amazing is just getting everybody's different opinion.

On how they should advertise things and how they should organize things. And everybody seems to be in the same boat of, I feel like I need to advertise my services, but I feel really awkward doing so. Yeah. Yeah. Do you think that that's like across all businesses or do you think that's just because we work with families and we've kind of got that, we just want to focus on the services that we provide?

I think it's a helping profession thing. Yeah. Most people that I talk to that are in, you know, helping, teaching professions don't want to be marketing themselves because it feels... They just want to get on with helping the kids, but if people don't know you're out there, then you can't help them. Exactly.

Yeah. It's like switching that whole mindset from marketing to, well, I've got to sell to, I'm just going to tell you about what I'm doing. Like rather than thinking, maybe we just need a new word for it. So instead of marketing, we're going to be like, creating awareness. Yes, exactly. And like we do, we talk a lot about that this weekend, you know, a lot about creating awareness.

Um, what were some of the things, you know, you talked about other people talking about? What are some of the things that have worked for you, or maybe things that you heard this weekend that you're like, Oh, I think I might want to try that. So I have been trying to step into doing more Facebook Reels and Lives and it was really good to see.

What other people are doing for those, because I feel extraordinarily awkward doing live. We all do. Live things. Um, so it's given me a bit more confidence to have a go at them. Um, and just the way they've structured some of their programs. Yeah. It's really made me think, Oh yeah, I can absolutely run some more programs.

We're getting ready to start our pre prep program. I'm so excited about that. So it's been really helpful to see what other people are doing in that field. Yeah. Um, I'm throwing a curveball here, but as a speechy, how do you feel being surrounded by a bunch of teachers and tutors for the weekend? How would that be for you?

I've worked in education Queensland for the last 15 years before I went to my own private practice, so. It's kind of the same. Yeah. So you know how we roll. You just slotted right on in to be fair. Teachers are great. So I guess, you know, I'm always talking to teachers and tutors, but for any speeches who are listening, what are your thoughts on, you know, doing something like this retreat this time of way?

Cause I know that you said yesterday. Coming into this weekend, you already felt like you knew what your goals were. What's changed over this weekend? It's just really nice to have the time dedicated to it. Yeah. So when you're day to day, you're like, yeah, I know my goals, but you don't actually have time to go, okay, what's the first step, second step, third step, fourth step, and actually action them.

I've got so much planning done this weekend. And I feel so much more sure about the concrete steps I need to do next to get where I want to be. Yeah, I love it. I love that you didn't just say, I've got so much planning done because like we plan all day. Like we've got ideas and then we plan and then we've got more ideas and then we plan.

But I'm hoping now that that's been one of my things, non negotiables. Like you can't leave here without a plan and the action steps that you need to take. So I'm really, really glad that. You've gotten that out of it as well. Um, to finish off, um, what are your 2024 goals? Let's put it out there to the world.

What is it that you are working on next year trying to achieve? So what I'm really hoping is that I can get my allied health assistant running a whole bunch of new programs. So we've already got, um, a girl's grant, which is about, um, girls with ADHD or autism and building their resilience. But I've just been working on just now getting a better structure to that and having it really structured so that we, making sure we're building their resilience every single week.

Um, we've got a pre prep program just starting now and I really want to fill that up and have it amazing where you've got five kids. It's in an hour and a half session and they're just all having a go at all of the tasks. Yeah. I'm so excited about that. I really want to get a Lego group going for the boys in the same kind of vein as the girls group.

Yeah. Building their resilience, getting them happy with themselves, great mindset stuff. Yeah. So yeah, I really want to build her time up and it means that kids get to hang out with other kids that are just like them. There's not. The opportunity to hang out regularly with other kids with autism or ADHD Generally at school.

Yeah, it's very true actually and It's it's been really interesting for me because even though you know I I had my business for so long and I worked in the class. It is still so many situations that Just not aware of, you know, or you don't stop to think about, um, you know, um, Carrie with her working with gifted and talented, and even you, you know, just that then talking about getting kids who have all got these similar backgrounds together because it doesn't happen at school, you know, and that's, I think.

The important part when you figure out what you're doing differently and what you can provide that isn't out there or isn't out there well, or isn't out there as much. That's, like, such a big part to being successful in business. You just want them to be able to relax and be themselves. Yeah. And if they're there with other kids like them, they can.

They can unmask, they can work on their growth mindset and be their odd little selves. Yeah. Just like we have been this weekend. Exactly. Our odd little selves. No, it's been lots of fun. Thank you. I know that, um, you know, I've, I've pushed everyone out of their comfort zone at some point this weekend. You have one more goal.

I have one more goal. Such a big goal. I need another speech pathologist or an OT. So if there's anybody out there who's a speech pathologist or an OT and wants to come work at Pink Place A, Please get in contact because I would love to hear from you. We're in Nambour on the Sunshine Coast. Okay, what's your, tell us your website, tell us your details.

It's thinkplaysay. com. au. Phone number is 0491 713 645. And info at thinkplaysay. com. au. Perfect, alright. So, any speeches. OTs. Yep. Yep. Um, get in touch with Christine, but thank you. It's, it's been so much fun having you here this weekend. It's been really, really good. All of the ladies that are here this weekend, um, I have Christine.

Same. They are awesome. Yes, they are. Um, but I have met them all online and work with them online at some point. Side note, that's not a prerequisite for the retreat, but it just so happens that I have worked with all of them, but actually meeting in real life, it's just next level. Um, even sitting down, having these conversations now about the weekend for this podcast has been really cool.

So thank you for coming along. Thank you for doing this with me. I know I'm challenging you. Um, and thanks for coming again. Yeah, it's been awesome.

All right. Next up and finally we have Natalie. So Natalie, do you want to tell us a little bit more about your business? Um, yeah, so I'm on the central coast of New South Wales and I run a literacy tutoring centre and I also offer school readiness sessions for kids who are going to start school the following year.

Awesome, cool. Yeah. And firstly, what are your thoughts on this weekend? Now I'm just throwing you a curveball here, but I'd love your feedback on what do you think has, um, you know, I know that there's a few of you like, yes, I'm coming back again. What has it been for you that's Like, yeah, this has just made it, uh, an effective or productive or exciting.

Like what's been good for you for this weekend? Yeah. I mean, obviously meeting everyone has been amazing, but for me, it would definitely be, um, the goal setting and planning out the next 12 months. So knowing that I have a pathway that I need to follow instead of just randomly doing bits and pieces here and there.

So yeah, that's definitely. Yeah. Yeah, definitely will take away from me. And so, um, Natalie and I have worked together in a number of different ways. Um, and actually it was really exciting to me because I do feel like I've known you forever and it's been really great to see this weekend you get so super clear on exactly what you want for your business.

And I mentioned this before with one of the other ladies, but everyone has got different goals and that's really cool because we've all got different businesses. And throughout the weekend, we've also had lots of conversations and, um, so many questions like, uh, we, we had a. We had set time yesterday for a hot seat session, but we'd pretty much spent the whole of yesterday hot seating in amongst all of all of our training.

Yeah. But what, what is a takeaway? Like what's something you've learned or maybe whether it's from me or from the other ladies, maybe one or two things that you've really. Learn this weekend or that you grasped that either you haven't heard before or just hit in a different way this weekend? Um, probably that I can speak out about, um, my business in terms of, you know, previously being a teacher and having that code of conduct in place and whatnot that I, I now don't.

Need to abide by that. Like I can say, no, this isn't right. This is what we need to do. This is, yeah. So, you know, there's been a lot of moments, you know, people, the other ladies have been saying, you know, so, oh, oh, I can do that. Like, so yeah, I think that's a, a big part for me, taking that going. Okay. I, I don't need to hold myself in such a tight little box anymore.

I can speak out and, and put my views out there. I'm really excited to hear you say that. And now to see. What comes of that, you know, like your social media already has just been, you know, blossoming flourishing, but now to know that you're actually going to be able to speak what your truths are, you know, put out there your values and what you believe in.

It's just going to attract those right families to you. And, you know, for those listening, we did speak about how. To stand out, you obviously you need to have your unique selling points, you know, what makes you different in the way that you offer your services and maybe what you offer, but it's also really what you believe as well.

So, what is important to you? What do you value? I remember when I first started school readiness. Nobody even knew what it was and then when people started to sort of hear about it, they were very, not everybody, but some people were very negative about it and sort of saying, well, what you're teaching three year olds to read, you know, and, and then it's really about educating parents and then attracting people who wanted to learn.

And I feel like now that you are kind of like, okay, I, I'm allowed to do this, like, it's just going to help the growth of your business even more. And I mean. You have just successfully recently converted all of your one on one clients into groups, which is amazing. Congratulations on that. Thank you. So good.

Um, and so now you've created space to bring on more students. So those things combined, I think it's going to be really exciting. Yeah, absolutely. And again, you know, putting everything in place and having that path. Um, it's nicely mapped out. Yeah, it is going to be a, a nice journey, I think, not a stressful one.

Um, so what are your goals for 2024? So, um, the ones I really want to focus on are, um, securing all my school readiness sessions, making sure that they're, they're full and on the days that I want Do that. Um, that requires me finding a bigger space. So that's kind of that goal tied in there. Um, I'd love to run parent workshops.

So there, um, as part of bringing on a new student. So they're very much aware of what we do, how we do it. Um, and that they can, you know, use that language and modeling at home as well. So it's just that continuation of, um, of learning. Um, yeah, I'd love to get more information out to parents too. Like, yeah, that's my, um, so goal is to put out that information pack that really lets parents know who we are, what we do, what we can offer.

Um, so that's my third goal. And we're on a side note here. Natalie and I said, like I mentioned before, throughout the weekend, there's been lots of questions and lots of brainstorming and ideas, but trying to work with everyone one on one for a period of time to nut things out. And we've really nutted out a great funnel for Natalie to bring in those new clients and then to take them from, you know, just traffic into leads.

Um, you know, the next stage, which is conversion, which is paying, uh, clients. So that's been, you know, for me sitting back and looking at your business and thinking so far, everything's just sort of happened to just, just happened. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Now you've got a strategy and once you create that strategy.

It's not set and forget, but it's set and less work from you. Um, and the particular funnel that, you know, we've created means you can use that at a number of times throughout the year and then repeat the following year. So I think that's really exciting, like just having that process. Yeah, absolutely. And again, another takeaway from the weekend, you know, not only having the plan, but, um, you know, learning how to break all that down into the steps that I need to do to achieve, um, the goals.

Um, you know, I mentioned the first day, I'm just, I struggle setting goals. So to be able to, you know, sit with you and work through that process and go, oh, okay, actually I do have to do all of this to make that happen. Not just write down a goal and go, well, hope the best. So, yeah. And, and also I think sometimes we write the goals and we think, yep, I wanna do this.

Um, and then we can talk about it, but even the talking, like, I was saying to one of the ladies before, just tell me what you've got to do, and it was the longest winded answer ever, and I'm like, okay, cut it back, here's a step, here's a step, so out of that three minutes feel that you gave me, which is so much in your head, here's the two steps that you've got to do, and I feel like, you know, for so many of us, that's really helpful, so, yeah.

Because there's so much going on in our heads. Yeah, absolutely. And then I'm down on the other end. What's your goal? That's my goal. How are you going to make it happen? I don't know. So, yeah, um, yeah. I'm kind of at that other end of it. I do need that information and the thought processes. So, yeah. Cool. Um, was that it?

Um, I just, yeah, I would, I'd love to become known as, um, you know, the place to help your child read in my community. I'd really love to have that name out there and I'll go see Natalie at Fundamental. Like, I would absolutely love that. That's a goal. Yeah, I love that. And I think now that you know, you've, you know, been empowered and you can see that everybody else is doing it, you now can talk.

Um, talk to the topics that you want to talk to as that person, as the expert. And you know, I know over the weekend, some of us talked about imposter syndrome and, and who am I to be doing that? And I had my pep talk pants on that day. You are this person because you've been doing it for so many years, whether it's in your tutoring business, whether it's in the classroom.

Because you've done the extra research, because you've got the experience, you've got the passion, you've got the way to communicate with students. You've got the resources to be at like all of those things give you a reason why. And, um, it's probably less about. Worrying, um, who am I to do this and more about thinking, well, if I don't do this, all of these kids miss out.

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And you've got to get your head into that space. You really do. Um, you know, I think, especially in where the current education system is of, you know, we've got people in this camp and, you know, in terms of teaching kids to read and then there's people over in this camp. Um. When you do put your views out, you can either be quickly shot down or celebrated.

So it is a bit of a, you know, almost nerve wracking thing to do. It is a hundred percent. You can, uh, you can be, um, what's the word? Like suddenly. Um, trying to think of a nice way to say, because you've spoken Exactly. Yeah. Because maybe you've spoken about something that wasn't necessarily the way or the, the, the things that your school wanted to speak about.

Yeah. So, um, and yeah, this isn't all schools and obviously these are just people's experiences from, from today and things like that, but it is more and more common. It's, uh, I love the fact that now you can be you. Yeah, there is like a sense of freedom this weekend. So it really does, like, you know, I think it was even this morning something popped up and I'm like, I can do that?

Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it is a sense of, yeah. I can be me. Exactly. I put myself out there and not worry. So, yeah. You are your own boss. Yeah. Yes. Thank you. Now, if people would like to know more about you or your tutoring business or follow the amazing things you're doing, where can they follow you? What's your website?

What's your Instagram handle? So, my website is fundamentalliteracy. com. au, um, and Instagram is again, Fundamental Literacy. Thank you. Thank you. Um, and we have one more member, um, who unfortunately isn't here to chat to us, but if you firstly thank you to all of the ladies who, who gave up their time to chat to me.

This is the first podcast I think for all of them. Um, so I really. Challenge them, but they've all stepped up to the occasion. This has been an amazing weekend. We've all learnt so much, myself included. We've all had so much fun. Um, the weather... Had its moments, but for the most part, it's been warm and sunny and absolutely beautiful.

Location's been top notch. The food has been delicious. Um, you know, on review, it's, it's just been amazing. Yeah. And thanks to you, honestly, it's, you know, well put together. You did an awesome job and it's, it's done everything we wanted it to be. And. On that note, we will be running another one, um, and it is going to book up quickly because we've already got people, um, who are like, yes, I'm coming.

So if this sounds like something that you might be interested in, then please get in touch. Um. I will put you on the waitlist, send me an email, flick me a DM, say yes that's me, I want to know more, I want to be surrounded by other amazing women who like to talk just as much as me, um, who like to... You know, get in and work on their businesses whilst enjoying each other's company.

So if that sounds like you, then let me know. And I will pop your name on the wait list. Um, the details for our next retreat will be up soon. If you enjoyed this episode today, I would absolutely love for you to leave a review. It only takes a minute. And if you haven't yet subscribed, make sure you do to ensure that you never miss an episode.

Finally, if you want to know more about what we do, head over to the website, kirstygibbs. com or check out the link in the show notes below. Thanks for listening. It's so great to have you here.