001: Course Creation Mama Intro
Sep 20, 2023
From Teacher to Online Course Creator: My Journey to Financial Freedom
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The Course Creation Mama podcast is officially here! I wanted to kick off the podcast by sharing a bit about my journey--how I went from being a high school math teacher to becoming a successful online course creator and entrepreneur.
I've listened to a lot of first episodes of podcasts, and they usually dive deep into the host's background story. To be honest, those aren't always my favorite, but I think it's important to understand where people are coming from and why we should be willing to learn from them.
This episode will share the important parts of my story and how I got to where I am today. I hope you will leave inspired and ready to take the next step in your journey to financial freedom!
An unexpected side hustle
Just a few years ago, I was a high school math teacher. Teaching had its ups and downs, as any educator will tell you, and it was crazy even before Covid came into the picture.
I loved teaching, but I was working all kinds of hours trying to find resources that were what my students needed. I never could quite find resources that were what I was looking for, so I started creating my own.
In 2017, I started selling my teacher resources online through a platform called Teachers Pay Teachers. Little did I know that this side gig would eventually pave the way for something incredible.
Things started to change
Fast forward to 2019, and I find out life-changing news: I'm going to be a mom! My husband and I were beyond thrilled--until I found out that teachers only get a 6-week maternity leave.
Leaving my baby after just six weeks was something I couldn't stomach. So, my husband and I sat down and decided I'd take a year off from teaching to stay home with our daughter. After our daughter was born, I knew I wanted to still contribute financially to our family.
My coworkers had always been curious about how I designed my teaching resources. I realized there was a demand for this knowledge and it was something they didn't teach us in college. I had heard about people who were creating online courses and thought I could make one that showed teachers how to create resources like the ones I made for my students.
In the summer of 2019, I took the plunge and opened my first online course. It wasn't a true launch--I simply announced, "Hey, I made this course. Do you want to buy it?" Surprisingly, a few people did, and I made around $1,000.
Taking it to the next level
After opening my course for the first time, I knew this could be bigger. I knew I could help even more people. So, over the next year, I immersed myself in learning everything I could about course creation, marketing, email strategies, social media, and everything in between.
In the summer of 2020, I had my first "real" course launch. I made $47,000 in a single week, which was about what I was making in a year as a teacher. It was a surreal moment.
That's when I decided to say goodbye to teaching for good. I knew I'd only improve and learn from here on out. I had more launches of my course and as I started sharing my success, people began asking questions.
I started meeting people for coffee so they could pick my brain, and I found out that I really enjoyed talking with them about what I was doing. I didn't have a background in business, but I was deeply immersed in it, and I was thriving. Even when I tried something that didn't work, I was willing to talk about it so others could learn from my mistakes.
I realized I wanted to help others create their own courses on topics they were passionate and knowledgeable about. That's when Meet the Bowdens was born. In 2022, my husband and I officially started offering programs to mentor families and help them build a life they loved through online courses or memberships.
You can do it too
I share this story not to brag, but to hopefully inspire you. I'm not special--I didn't have any secret skills or a fancy business degree. I was determined and willing to learn.
On this podcast, we'll cut the fluff and give you practical steps for creating and launching your own online course or membership business.
We'll discuss:
- What's working and what's not in my current business
- Details about income and expenses, because I believe it's essential to talk openly about money and what it takes to succeed
- Various streams of income
- Stories from experts who are achieving financial freedom
- Faith, family, maintaining work-life balance, and the importance of generosity
Our mission is to empower more families to gain financial freedom so they can make a positive impact on the world. We are excited for you to join us on this exciting journey so we can learn and grow together!
Don't forget to follow us on Apple Podcasts and leave a review! You can also connect with us at @meet.the.bowdens on Instagram.
