Little ‘Ol Blog Turned Brand
I have been on quite a journey since I started teaching a decade ago. I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. Once I became a teacher, I knew I wanted to be a leader. I thought that meant I would become an administrator of some kind, but over time I realized that job entailed a lot of politics, which is not my forte. Luckily, everything happens as its supposed to as well as at the very time its supposed to….coaching new teachers has been my way to be a leader in my field without the politics!
My Always A Lesson blog I started around this same time has blossomed so that it not only chronicles my classroom teaching adventures, but shares my acquired knowledge in leadership and instructional best practices with anyone reading. The last few months I have stepped out of my comfort zone again and took my blog and turned it into an audio blog called Always A Lesson’s Empowering Educators Podcast (available on Stitcher and iTunes) to help reach more teachers who are always on the go. It has been quite a ride and I am learning so much throughout the process.
I then made the decision to step out on my own as a Always A Lesson Educational Consultant, bringing PD and 1:1 coaching for teachers of all experience levels. With all the work I have done under the name Always A Lesson, it was time to trademark it as a brand! In doing that, I decided to have a full access website where a reader could locate my blog, podcast, educational resources and consulting services.
I miss my cutesy blog, but I know a website needs to be a simple format that is easy to read as well as professional. I still have some more work to do to get rid of my cutesy habits of fonts and colors, but I am not 100% ready to give it all up for the entire presentation to be black letters on white background in Cambria font size 12! 🙂
Let’s pay a quite homage:
Before
After
Looking back over my career the past 10 years, I wanted to say first, THANK YOU to the readers who have been with me from the beginning! I appreciate your support and encouragement. I also want to thank my family and husband for their support to follow my dreams and pave my own pathway. The risks I have taken over the past decade (sharing my blog publicly, placing that blog in a new format onto a new platform as a podcast, leaving the classroom, and starting my own educational consulting business) have been scary but so very rewarding.
I encourage you to take this time to also be thankful for what has been given to you and all that you have taken on and earned yourself. Times can be frustrating and overwhelming, but look back and take it all in for a moment. You are doing great things and affecting others in the most positive way.
The visual of my podcast data was enough to bring a HUGE smile to my face with all the different countries of educators listening in to gain new knowledge so they can remain positive and healthy while being their best to help their kiddos become successful in and out of the classroom.
Wishing you a thankful spirit as you take on your life’s adventures and tackle those goals. YOU GOT THIS!
What are you thankful for this holiday season?
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.