Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Manes, Founder of Wordy Birds, LCC, located in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Hi! I’m Kim, a Literacy and Dyslexia Specialist. Wordy Birds is a company dedicated to improving both literacy competence and confidence in struggling learners. I work one on one with students (many of whom have been diagnosed with dyslexia) using the Orton Gillingham method to give them multi-sensory tools and techniques to help them master the English language. I also provide resources for families so they can effectively support their learners at home. Currently, I serve students ranging from 5 to 18 years old.

Tell us about yourself

After college, I joined Teach for America and went on to obtain my MSEd. In my capacity as a classroom educator (and 4 years as a Literacy Specialist), I continually saw students struggling to read and write. The curriculums in the schools I taught at were ineffective in meeting lower-performing students at their current level, and I watched students struggle from year to year as they worked to gain the most basic literacy skills. After hearing about the Orton Gillingham (OG) Method, I completed their full course list and practicum and am now nationally recognized as an Orton Gillingham Certified Teacher. OG is a teaching framework that combines auditory, visual, and tactile/kinesthetic learning techniques to directly teach the rules and structure of the English language. It allows students to move through new concepts at their own pace, as each one-on-one lesson is specifically designed for the student based on their current performance level. I could talk about it all day, but the bottom line is that OG techniques were an immediate game changer for ALL of the students I was serving. My goal is to use those strategies to reach as many students and families as possible to alleviate the learning struggles their children might be experiencing. I find daily motivation in creating super-individualized lesson plans and witnessing daily “ah-hah!” (lightbulb) moments. Working for myself also affords me the flexibility to prioritize a relationship with my students' parents and approach our work together as learning partners. Collaboration has been key to the success of the students I serve.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I decided to leave my classroom teaching position and go all in on my business in 2021. The shift to online learning during Covid helped me realize that I loved the flexibility of working virtually and appreciated the additional emphasis put on family relationship building during school closures. The silver lining of a very difficult pandemic year for me was the realization that educational supports needed to change to better serve struggling students, and I had the ability to impact that change. I collaborated with local organizations and began advertising my services to families looking for extra support: I had the goal to replace my teaching income within 18 months, and I did it in 8!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Transitioning from a “regular” job to one of entrepreneurship comes with a host of challenges. Managing your time, attention, and energy while working to create and launch a new idea or product can be overwhelming. If you work from home as I do, motivating yourself to stay on task during the day (instead of folding that laundry or taking that extended lunch/movie break) can be difficult. Working solo can also leave you feeling isolated. Finally, managing ALL the tasks: contracts, invoices, quarterly tax payments, investments, paying yourself, lesson planning, communicating with families, reinvesting in your business, etc. The key for me has been scheduling regular time for reflection and time blocking my top priorities each week.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Delegate where you can (bookkeeping, payroll, legal stuff).
  2. Automate as much as you can (contacts, invoicing, etc.)
  3. Schedule regular time for reflection: Is your energy being spent in a way that’s most beneficial for your business? What are your current top priorities? Where can you lean on others for assistance? It’s my belief that if you can find the sweet spot between what the world needs and where your passions lie, entrepreneurship can be both empowering and impactful.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.wordy-birds.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordy.birds/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-manes/

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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