Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tammy Oesting, Co-Founder of ClassrooMechanics, located in Seattle, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
ClassrooMechanics provides leadership and instructional coaching for Montessori schools globally, as well as the delivery of affordable live professional development workshops and self-paced virtual courses tailored to stretch adults working in Montessori environments with all age levels.
Tell us about yourself
I'm certifiably curious about just about everything; as a self-professed "awe-junkie," I cultivate my passion for learning as a digital nomad roaming the world these past 8 years. After teaching Montessori education to children for years and then leading adults on their journey to become Montessori guides, I realized there was a gap in professional development designed for non-instructional roles that support classrooms. ClassrooMechanics was born on a beach in Albania with the creation of my first self-paced virtual beta course training support staff, the unsung heroes found in every school environment. In the first year after launching, we were serving school communities on six continents. I am motivated by this deeply purposeful work that has the potential to spark transformation in those that work with children and our future.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is knowing my work has a global impact in my field. I have realized a dream of building a passive income that supports my family and the business's growth without sacrificing my mission of serving those that need it the most. Since launching in 2016, we've trained thousands of people on every continent to be more effective in their jobs, with an outcome that translates into children that are nurtured to love learning.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think as a start-up bootstrapping entrepreneur; I found it difficult to identify what areas of the business would be better served by outsourcing the work that isn't in my wheelhouse. I am the creative force in my business, and I learned to let go of marketing so that I could make space to actually create content and to be able to step back and see the business from the balcony while simultaneously choreographing moves on the dance floor. We recently restructured the business and are moving towards a personal rebrand. Wish me luck ;)
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Three key components to the success of the business are continued growth as a subject expert, my observations and analysis of the market, and a growth mindset in which every step is a grand experiment that might fail (oooh, just think of the learning to be had in making mistakes). I suggest nascent entrepreneurs adopt an attitude of collaboration rather than competitiveness, to make space for observing the market and analyzing where their niche might be, and to make that leap into the unknown, knowing full well you might fail along the way and trusting failure is a gift to learn from. Remembering that product + customers + operations is what makes a business means sometimes bringing in those that are better than you to do the work you're less equipped for is key.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I stand on the shoulders of and beside many mentors and those that have inspired my path, and I offer deep gratitude and reciprocity by mentoring others in my field. Following my passions has created a trajectory that amplifies my personal and professional mission, and I stand gobsmacked by the radiance that has emerged.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.classroomechanics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classroomechanics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classroomechanics/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-oesting-3722b5ba/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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