I was flying back from a conference where I had the opportunity to represent a company as its Superintendent-In-Residence. I was reviewing all the notes I had taken and the business cards I had traded with school district leaders and other education partners. It hit me: Each of those notes and cards represented a problem I could solve, a collaboration I could establish, or information I could leverage.
Maybe you've had a similar moment reflecting on your experiences and thinking, "...there's something more here." That's what I want to talk about today - how your years of wrestling with master schedules, projects you've led, programs you have developed, and yes, even dealing with those tricky parent situations, have actually been preparing you for something bigger.
Your Experience Matters More Than You Think
Think about your typical day. You may be the person who always finds a way to make complex data make sense to teachers. Or perhaps you've got a knack for turning chaotic meetings into action plans that work. These aren't just daily tasks but valuable skills that other schools and districts would love to learn from. One retired principal I worked with in Los Angeles spent years creating a unique approach to teacher mentoring. She didn't think much of it until a colleague visited her school and said, "This is exactly what we need. How did you do this?" That's when she realized she had something special to share.
Starting Small, Thinking Big
Here's a simple exercise that's helped many educators begin seeing their potential as edupreneurs:
Grab a notebook (yes, right now - I'll wait!)
List three problems you've solved in the past month
Write down how you solved them
Note who else might benefit from your solution
You might be surprised by what you discover. I gave this exercise to an assistant superintendent I coached in Oregon. After completing and reflecting on the exercise, she realized she had developed a unique way of handling student behavior data that other schools could use. Today, she consults with districts across her state.
Finding Your Sweet Spot
The magic happens when your expertise meets a real need in education. But how do you find that intersection? Start having conversations - lots of them. Talk to:
Your fellow administrators
Teachers in different districts
Education Consultants
Anyone in education who will chat with you, whether in PK-12 or higher education
Listen for patterns. What problems keep coming up? What solutions are people hungry for? One educator noticed that everyone she talked to struggled with teacher retention. She combined this insight with her experience in recruiting and hiring international teachers. As a result, she now supports a private firm that recruits teachers worldwide.
Taking Those First Steps
You don't have to quit your day job tomorrow and launch a full-fledged consulting business. Start small:
Share your insights on LinkedIn
Write about your successful projects
Join education leadership groups online
Offer to speak at a local education conference
Remember that principal with the mentoring program? She started by writing one LinkedIn post about her approach. That post led to conversations, which led to speaking opportunities, eventually leading to her current role as a sought-after consultant.
Building Your Toolkit
As you explore your potential as an edupreneur, think about the following:
What unique systems have you created?
Which of your approaches do others often ask about?
What problems do you solve almost without thinking?
Where do you see gaps that your experience could fill?
These questions help you identify your "ExpertiseDNA" - the unique combination of skills and experiences that make your approach valuable to others.
The Road Ahead
Will becoming an edupreneur be easy? No. Will it be worth it? That depends on what you want to achieve. But here's what I know for sure: education needs people like you - people who've been in the trenches, solved real problems, and can help others do the same.
Start Today:
Set aside 30 minutes to reflect on your expertise
Write down three areas where you excel
Think about who might benefit from your knowledge
Plan one small step you can take this week
Remember, you're not starting from zero. You're starting with years of experience, proven solutions, and real-world wisdom. That's a pretty good place to begin.
In our following newsletter, we'll dive deeper into how to validate your ideas and start building your platform. Until then, take that first step. Document your expertise, share your insights, and start those conversations. You might just find that the expertise you've been building all these years is exactly what other educators need.
Reflective Questions:
When I think about the problems I solve regularly at work, which solutions come most naturally to me, and why do others seek my help with these specific challenges?
Looking back at my career journey, what unique approaches or systems have I developed that made a real difference in my school or district?
Which aspects of my educational leadership experience energize me the most when I'm sharing them with others?
What patterns do I notice in conversations with other educators about their challenges and needs?
How can my experience help address the gaps I see in current educational solutions?"
Tasks:
Document Your Wins
Create a "Success Journal" for one week
Write down every problem you solve
Note who asked for your help and why
Reflect on what made your solution effective
Start Your Content Calendar
Choose one platform (LinkedIn recommended)
List 3 topics you're confident discussing
Draft 2 posts about recent successes
Schedule them for the next two weeks
Begin Market Research
Identify 10 education leaders to talk with
Schedule 2 conversations for next week
Prepare 3 open-ended questions about their challenges
Take detailed notes during each discussion
Map Your Expertise
Create a mind map of your skills
List projects you've led successfully
Note the outcomes and impact
Identify patterns in your successes
Build Your Resource Library
Start a digital folder of your created resources
Organize materials by category
Note which resources others frequently request
Consider how these could be scaled or adapted
Educational Leadership Newsletter
In my previous newsletter, I discussed my vision for 2025 while reflecting on 2024. In follow-up newsletters, I will continue using the Life Energy Action Plan (LEAP) framework to break down the domains and their impact. You can read the rest of the story in my Educational Leadership newsletter on LinkedIn or Substack.
Career Board
SummitK12 positions: Empower Learners. Support Teachers. Accelerate Achievement.
The Pulse
As an edupreneur, you're part of an industry growing faster than ever. The numbers tell an exciting story - the EdTech market, for example, is heading toward US$598.82 billion by 2032, growing at over 17% yearly. These developments could shape how you set your path and grow your impact. Read the full report.
Resources & Tools
Looking to grow your educational impact without draining your resources? Let me introduce you to AppSumo, a platform that's changed how I approach my educational ventures. As someone who's walked the path from educator to edupreneur, I know how quickly tools and subscriptions can add up. AppSumo offers lifetime deals on software that typically charge monthly fees - think course creation tools, project management systems, and AI assistants. It's built on a simple idea: growing your educational business shouldn't break the bank. Investing in the right tools once will free up resources to focus on what matters most - making a difference in education. I have been a subscriber for the past couple of years and have saved quite a bit of money.
