How I Started Teaching Online

And Why I Was Scared to Start

I prefer to be an introvert.

I have always been the quiet one. You know, the one in the background, afraid to lift up their voice, out of fear of being judged.

How is it that now I am standing in front of a class teaching four days a week?

How is it that I own my own online businesses, teach online, podcast, and write my own newsletters?

If you would have told me I would be standing in front of class, teaching online, running a business, podcasting and writing my own newsletters five years ago.

I would have told you, “no way!”

But here I am, 2022.

And I am doing just that!

Let me rewind for a minute so I can explain how I got here.

It was January 2020 and I started my first class.

In person. It was going as well is it would go for anyone starting their first class. I made plenty of mistakes.

Then in the middle of March, everything shut down, and we all had to go online.

Other than the fear and anxiety that plagued us all during the coronavirus outbreak. I excelled with teaching online. I loved it.

I would wake up early in the morning, have my morning coffee, make a small breakfast, get dressed, and then in the comfort of my own home, I would sit at the computer and prepare the lecture for the day, before all of the students had to login on to the Zoom platform.

Then, I would deliver the lecture.

As soon as I was done. I was already home. I got undressed, put on comfortable clothes. Fed the animals. Made myself some dinner and I was done.

I did not have to drive anywhere, I did not have to waste gas, I felt like a good human being, not leaving a carbon footprint behind, every single day I drove to work and back home. CLICK HERE to see how the shut down helped the environment.

It was fantastic for those 3-4 months that it lasted.

Then we were required to return to work. I did not want to go back to teaching in person. I was upset for a while, because now I had to get dressed, pack a lunch, drive 30 minutes to get to work, teach, then drive back home another 30 minutes. Feed the animals when I got home. Make something to eat. Wake up and do it all over again the very next day.

The truth is, I am so use to this routine again, of going back and forth to and from work, that it has become normal. It is what helps me pay the bills. Yet, I can’t help but keep thinking, “you know, there has to be a better way!”

Although, I was required to go back to teaching in person, I knew that teaching online could be done. We just did it for months. Why couldn’t we continue doing it? And if not the entire program? Perhaps, a portion of the program?

So as I kept teaching in person, I continued wondering…

There has to be a way for me teach online, this is what I love to do. There has to be a way for me to support myself (I do not live lavishly, so it doesn’t require very much for me to live comfortably). There just has to be a way for me to make money online.

Well, one night I had a dream. I dreamt a white board. That is all I can really remember about this one dream. So I woke up that day with the plans of buying one, I went to SAMs and bought a white board and recorded my first video and posted it on YouTube that same day. CLICK HERE to see that video!

That was almost a year ago. Since, I have posted over 80 videos online helping students reach their goal of becoming a massage therapist. I have 640 subscribers on YouTube and it is continuing to grow. I have also made my first dollar online this year, and that is continuing to grow.

And what is even more fantastic is the state I work in has implemented distance learning into their rules and regulations for the curriculum of massage therapy, of course, the hands on portion of the massage therapy program must be done in person, which is most understandable.

What I have learned from this, is that when you feel a calling to do something, answer it! Do not wait for the right time, right now is the right time!

Do not let opportunities pass you up, if you feel an urging to do something, like Nike says “just do it!”

There was a time back in 2017, when I laid down every night to go to sleep, I could not stop thinking about starting a YouTube channel. I wanted to start a channel about the meal preps I would make.

[Check out the photos I at least took, but never made YouTube videos for *sad face*]

You see, I missed an opportunity to create videos on something I was passionate about.

I did create one video and all I posted was that one video. However, I did not commit. Sadly.

I sometimes wish I would have continued creating and posting videos, because now I do not even have the desire to cook these days. But when I do cook, I think, you know if I would have started creating content around meal prepping I would want to do this, I would be motivated to prep my meals to create content.

And if I am being honest. I could always start again.

But you see, the thing is, is I am not full of that passion like I once was.

“Opportunities are like buses — there’s always another one coming!” - Richard Branson

What I have also learned is when you miss an opportunity, that bus will come back around. Perhaps in another form.

Because when I had the desire to start teaching online, it did not take me long to decide to start making videos on MBLEx content!

It started with one student who needed tutoring, this particular student of mine has a language barrier, so I would travel to tutor her at the local half price bookstore.

One day as I was driving back home from one of our tutoring sessions, I realized that I wanted to continue helping her, but how could do this on a larger scale without having to travel 30 minutes out of my way to meet with her at the half price bookstore, especially on my day off.

Then, YouTube came to mind!

You see, back in the day I wan’t so savvy. I was meal prepping and making side money, but I was working way too hard, going to the grocery store, buying the food, walking up three flight of stairs to get the food inside my apartment, prepping the meals, and then delivering the food to my customer in exchange for cash.

Had I been savvy back then, I would have chose to create content around meal prepping so that others could do the same thing and potentially generate revenue online for the future. While at the same time, continuing to sell the meals I made in the present. Opportunity missed.

But now, I refuse to let the opportunity of teaching massage therapy students online, pass by. I am jumping on that bus!

I am all in.

Do I still have insecurities?

Of course I do, the fear is always there. I have just become better at ignoring the fear when it is time to publish my hard work.

I want you do a little experiment with me.

Cross your arms over your chest as if someone just said something that upset you, or as if you are cold and trying to warm up.

Which arm is on top? Left or right?

Now, try to place the other arm on top. How does it feel?

Weird? Uncomfortable?

Which one feels more natural?

For me, I prefer for my left arm to be on top. It is more comfortable!

Now, this doesn’t mean I cannot place my right arm on top. I can certainly do it. I just prefer to have my left one on top.

It’s the same way in life. I prefer to be an introvert. Alone at home. Journaling, watching a movie, unwinding, creating content. It is where I am most comfortable. Others prefer to go out with their friends and run around the town. And that is okay, we are all allowed to be different!

Now, consider this as well, are you uncomfortable taking a leap of faith?

If you are anything like me, then the answer is yes!

Yet, we can still do it. We just prefer to stay in our comfort zone and choose not to take that leap.

So, I would encourage you the next time to do it anyway, even if you’re uncomfortable!

And especially if you feel a calling, you never know where it will lead you when you answer it.

Why was I so scared to start teaching online then?