creakins

I michael... My business is private music education. I've been a public school music educator for the past 7 years. I left the world of being a professional private instructor for the security of the public system, only to discover that the security came at quite a large price. The biggest price I paid was in the success of the students I taught. When my students were voluntary they were successful, in the public system, the nature of the system has me teaching sub optimally. I've decided to leave that world, start a podcast to inspire people to support music education privately, build resources for other music instructors and start up my private practice again. My business site is www.musicitup.com Thank you for asking. I hope you get a moment to check out my site. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Chris

Here's the link to the day 3 blog of the 100 day Challenge. Leaving the public education field to pursue a more meaningful path as a private music instructor. http://goldencuffshakedown.blogspot.ca/2014/03/day-3-of-100-day-challenge-give-rock-on.html

Hi Everyone, Listening to the podcast from Sunday's call in show yesterday, the conversation with the last guest really inspired me to kick my agency up a notch. I've recently started a business, which is giving me the freedom to leave the public education world to go and actually teach. I've been writing a podcast journalling this journey into living by my morals, and using my skills to really make a difference. Freedomain has been one of the many inspirations along the way, so I thought I'd share this with you. I'd love to be able to inspire other people like yourself to use the power of your personal Agency to make a change in the world. http://goldencuffshakedown.blogspot.ca/2014/03/100-day-challenge-day-2.html I hope you find some value. If you feel like having a discussion on the topic, feel free to leave a comment. C

Hi, I'm looking at starting my own private music teaching business over the next five months. I've been researching the market and I can't find anyone doing what I'll be doing in the market of in home music education. I am looking for some advice though. I am looking at all the hidden costs and needs that I might be over looking. I'd love to talk to someone who has been successful going out on their own as I have a few questions. If anyone is willing to talk with me, let's connect here, but I'd also rather not get into the details of the small business over the forum. I'm not looking for free legal advice, so if you feel that your time and advice is worth something, I would be willing to compensate anyone for their time. C

You have brought up a few really good points. The reality is I'm afraid. From what I've been learning, it can be a very difficult process to see that the abusive behavior isn't protective and builds dependance on the abuser. Let me give you another example. My mind is a little cloudy today because of a talk I had with my father last night. He came down to my apartment to talk about my decision to take a leave from teaching. To sum up what he said, the only measure of success that going out on my own and leaving my job in public education is whether or not I end up making more money than teaching to balance my current salary and the fact that I will be losing the government pension that I get as a teacher. He then followed it up with saying that from my history as a teenager with anger problems, he doesn't feel like I am going to meet that success criteria. I can go and try, but don't forget all the stuff my parents do for me. This immediately got me thinking about how I am possibly going to make it without the security of this full time employment by the government. It made me really nervous and had me second guessing my opinion to make the move on with my life. The only two people in my world that don't support this decision are my parents. After some serious reflection this is what I came up with. From this example, I am aware that the abuse will continue to feed the self doubt. I need to get away from it. I am working at finding a way to do so where I can have the best foundation for success rather than acting without a well laid plan. I want to be successful at what I transition into. I know that I can do it. If I leave right now and move to the city with five months of my contract left, financially I will be draining my reserves in rental costs and commuting expenses. An increase of over $1150 a month if I can rent a bachelor apartment at $750 and gas prices not increasing at all over the next 5 months. This means that I will not have any savings to buffer me through the start up phase of my new development come september. Most of the time, my parents leave me alone, unless of course I initiate a conversation (like trying to get them in on my plan - knowing damn well that they were going to make me feel like I am going to fail at this venture). I am not saying that the abuse is my fault, but at the same time, I do not need to communicate with them as I do have a separate apartment all together. So no... it doesn't help my situation mentally to subject myself to this kind of abuse. Moving out without an action plan will only affirm their believes that I will fail. Smartly planning my transition, and then executing it, although there is a great deal of risk, is how I will better my chances of success. My father after letting me know his opinion said that they will lower my rent to help me succeed. Its kind of like a punch in the belly followed by a popsicle to make me feel better. I understand that his action was to reaffirm my reliance on him, but the one thing that he doesn't understand is that I saw the punch coming, dodged it, and now will use the popsicle he is offering as a start up to create my own popsicle factory. When I read this back - I could really use some insight on if this goes against the principle of non-agression or private property. I can't think of a reason why it does. This sounds like something Dagny, from Atlas Shrugged, would use to put her in a better business situation. Meanwhile, I better start drawing up my plans for my popsicle factory.

Dsayers, Being in the same situation, my decision was to leave for the sake of my physical and mental health. I am working hard at healing, and discovering that the abuse I endure daily in my house is the one stopping point from achieving freedom. I agree that any therapist would say that you need to remove yourself from the abusive relationship to heal. There are therapists in the city that I am moving to (which I called home for my 20's) that do discounted sessions with clients who can't pay the full price. I am sure you could find something like that if you looked hard and was honest about your finances up front. I'm quickly learning, that saving money through taking advantage of my parents only comes at a cost. The mental cost isn't worth the financial savings. That is my opinion and why I am finally making the move, despite the fact that I will not be financially better off right away. I'm hoping that 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration will balance the scales. Keep me posted about what you decide. And I hope my point of view helps.

Dsayers, That really does help. Thank you for your insight. I didn't think about the immoral nature of not paying my parents the $800. Currently, my mother is not talking to me, and after watching the Bomb and the Brain series again, I can see the effects of her being raised by two very abusive parents. Its unfortunate that she is repeating the cycle with her kids, but it helps to put things in perspective. As for leaving before that 5 months is up, I don't think that is a smart option. There isn't a whole lot of inexpensive rentals in my little town, and its just too far from the city to make the move and continue to commute. I will limit my communication as I have my own apartment, pay my bills in full and in time, and keep my nose to the grindstone when it comes to working and saving money to make my transition to entrepreneurship as smooth as possible. Of course I won't avoid the abuse all together in the next 5 months, but I have been paying for therapy and will continue to work through it. All I want is my health and happiness and I can see it clearly now, the road to it has a few pot holes that if I drive carefully enough, I'll avoid most of them. Thank you for your advice. c

Hi Everyone, I need some advice. I've been on a self knowledge journey for many years now, and have decided to leave my job for a year and make a run at being an entrepreneur. I am 31, and for the past two years I have lived with my parents because I wanted to pay off my large school debt, get healthy, and spend some quality time digging into some self knowledge work. My mother is hyper religious. The catholic type that spends four nights a week at Church. She is also medicated for being bi-polar. I never know what mom I am going to get from day to day. She is either really happy, or really stressed and angry. Growing up I had to deal with daily screaming and hitting. When she found the Church at age 15, some of the screaming subsided, but then the fear tactics kicked in. Her father was a drunk and an abuser, while her mother was institutionalized several times for mental breakdowns. Her mother was also a screamer and a hitter. I always try to understand and support her through her massive mood swings, but I don't think I can do it any longer. My father, who still lives at home, has always been the "my way or the highway" kind of guy. As a teenager, I always tried to get him to take my side, but he protected my mother and said that I just had to do what I was told and stop making her mad (as if it was my fault). It was a very difficult decision to move home two years ago, but with my looming debt, and my health drastically failing because I was not managing my own stress, eating habits, while I smoked a pack a day and drank to fall asleep. I have since gone through a great deal of therapy and life style adjustments and I have never been healthier, happier, and mentally sound. It was my father gave me the option two years ago, and said that my rent would help him retire, while I could live close to work and get healthy. My rent didn't help him retire, instead it bought him a motorcycle and a couple of cruises. At 71, he has no intention of retiring. But here's the situation right now. He supports me and says that no matter what decision I make in life I'll always be his son and will support my decisions. I am the only one who can find happiness for myself. To make this transition smooth, I asked if it was possible to lower my rent to just utilities ($300 a month) from $800. When I explained to my mother why I was asking she lost her temper, said that I am just like her, bi-polar, and that this phase I'm just throwing away my secure job as a public school teacher. I told her that it was irrational to project her label onto me without any empirical evidence. The only truth to my situation is that I am working for something I do not believe in, and the past seven years in the school system has been trying. She ended the conversation by saying that I was always just using them. I kept my cool, and said that I would have hoped for a non-emotional extreme response and some parental advice and support. She stormed off to her bedroom and I probably won't see or hear from her for a week. I do not need their approval at all. Reducing my rent would have been extremely helpful. I'm thinking that the next 5 months I have to live here (proximity to work, and I have five months left on my contract at the school before I can move back down to the city) is going to really uncomfortable, but I might just give them what I can ($300) and if they decide to kick me out, the ties will naturally be cut. What would someone do in this situation? I'd appreciate any advice. C

Just as an aside... In my 7 years as a teacher I have never said, "Thank God Its Friday!"... or "Only 5 more days to go till the weekend." Why do so many teachers have this standard greeting in the staff room?

Hi Jpahmad, This morning my principal pulled me into her office after receiving my letter of leave and hugged me. She said that she was so proud of me for taking a risk. Although I am a good teacher to her, she knows that teaching in a government school is not my passion and has fully encouraged and supported me to go out and take a risk. I do not have any private students right now, nor do I really know 100% about how I am going to make this work. What I do know is that you only have one life to live, and waiting to live it when you can collect your pension is throwing away the majority of your life, on the back of tax payers. I'd love to hear what you would rather do with your time? I have an online idea for a business that might interest you, and with the same experiences, I'm sure we can share and support each other to make the change to freedom. Why else would we be coming on this forum? We have an amazing community here. Let me know if you have any questions I could help you with. I know how it feels to walk into a building that feels like a prison. I've been doing it for seven years now. C

Thanks again Corpus. I have been griping about the public school system since I first started working in it. It has payed my bills, but it wasn't until I really started digging into the freedomain radio content was I able to put a name to my discomfort. Before I was a teacher I had this web site idea about delivering custom in home music lessons. I abandoned my plan when my girlfriend at the time, (we were engaged) said that I needed to be bringing in more of an income because she didn't want to support my broke musician butt. Needless to say we weren't on the same page, and after I landed that "golden" ticket as a teacher we decided to part ways. Now, I believe that I am an excellent teacher, as most of my private students are becoming successful young musicians. My full class teaching always takes a back seat to my interests these days, so I can honestly say that I am not a successful government school teacher. To truly deliver quality instruction, I think you need to be very experienced. That is why, before the school system came into existence, the teachers were always the old, wise and experienced people in the community. This being said, it is important for me to continue to develop my musical abilities by performing with people that continue to challenge me to grow. The band that I have been hired for is a brand new band, but each musician involved has had some major successes in the industry, especially the song writer. The song writer has had major successes in the states and Europe, so I believe that in supporting her, I can grow my credibility. As for learning online marketing, exploring sites like lynda.com, offers a huge assortment of educational resources at a fraction of the price of the major institutions, all taught by industry leaders. It also allows me to learn on my schedule, so that I can get out there and make my ideas become a successful business prospect. Just these conversations alone are really helping me think through my decision. Now to the safety net. In economics you have to measure your potential risks with any venture that you are hoping to be able to use in the free market. The risk of having to move into my parents basement at the age of 33 and go back to this school after a failed attempt at an entrepreneurial venture is to great to fail at said venture. When I look to the real world for examples of people who have become successful at making a move like the one I am planing, I see that they stepped out on that branch, unsure if they were going to fall or not, but the risk of falling was to great for them to fail. I don't believe the option of going back to school is actually a safety net, but more of a pit full of spikes to be impaled on if I fall. I could just resign and walk away I guess, but why not use it as a motivation not to fail? I am sure I am going to flip flop on the action I am taking a few times before it becomes the reality for me. I bet you the spikes will turn to a net to spikes... and back and forth until that first self made dollar crosses into my bank account. Now its really time for action. I have 5 months now to plan, two months to execute, and the rest of my life to harvest, repeat and live a free life. Does this make sense?

Brilliant way to think about things Corpus. The real point to learning is happiness in the end. Currently I am not happy with the system I am in. I feel like it has allowed me to fail as a musician. Now because I am a failed musician in a classroom, I don't teach music at the absolute best quality that a successful musician might. I myself would never just go to a person who can kinda play an instrument to teach me how to get better... I seek out the experts. I've done this on a number of occasions where I have just found someone to study with for a period of time. I think where I am the most scared is how I will make rent and buy food. I've been teaching for 7 years and its scary to leave the person who has kept me well fed for this long. I know that I can be an expert musician and private music educator if I really slug out some work. There's a number of things I need to do to be successful there. Learning how to create a website where I can really sell myself, and market to my specific target audience, is something that I need to learn to become successful at life - happiness. In the past two weeks, I have already been hired onto a band to play drums, and need to move back to the downtown area to be involved with that. So the answer to your questions is simple. No schooling will train me to take the reigns of my own life and happiness. The subjects I want to learn about are easily accessible and I just have to start doing it. If I get stuck, I'm sure I could find someone to pay for a little advice to get unstuck. The system that I am in right now also has the option to just take a leave of absence without actually giving up my job. That would give me a solid year to be successful somewhat safely. I wonder if that security net will actually hinder my progress though. I've been taught that its a bad move to burn a bridge unless you're safely on the other side. I have a lot of learning to do between now and the end of the school year. Thank you for your guiding questions.

DSAYERS, Thank you for your insite. You are absolutely correct in wondering how paying into more schooling for me, would assume that the schooling system is broken. I do not believe that education is a bad thing, but I do not enjoy that I have paid into a system because I thought it was what I had to do. Paying for some extra skills training is something I might have to invest in, or start studying on my own. I have been interested in search engine optimization for a while now and have been reading a lot about it on my own. I think you've given me another option. I could self learn what I want to do, rather than get sucked back up into the same cycle that I am trying to fight my way out of. I have a few business ideas that I want to pursue and was thinking that taking a course in Marketing would help me break into a new industry. But the reality is, that I might be stuck on my parental advice (which was often more "my way or the highway"). I am still learning myself and I really appreciate your question to ponder. Thank you.

Hi everyone, Years ago, after building up a major amount of debt, I succeeded at getting a general arts degree in music. Yay!! I took a bank loan to learn how to shake a tambourine better than most people. The only way to pay that loan back was to find a job, I was told, by my very controlling parents. (They co-signed for the debt load). I got a job teaching public school music. I've been doing it for the past 7 years and I absolutely hate my job, and do not believe the in the public school system anymore. This has "inspired" me to turn a new corner. I'm filing my papers to resign for the end of the year and going back to school to learn about internet marketing and SEO. I can't believe how much is resources are just wasted. A man, who is the head of my board, makes well over the 100,000 mark, just to sign off on a new board slogan, "Inspire Learning." Inspired bullshit! I'm afraid to make the switch for a few reasons. 1. I know that I will forever have a job as a teacher in the public school system. 2. My pay will increase and I do not have to increase the quality of my work, in fact I can actually lower the quality of my work now that I've had my assessment. 3. My colleagues and parents think that I am insane for wanting to leave this world and tell me on a regular basis that I am throwing away my golden ticket. 4. I am going to lose my health benefits. What I realized today, was that none of the fears really outbalance the benefits of true freedom. Has anyone else made this giant leap into the unknown? Into the world where you can truly become a self made person? If so, I'd appreciate any advice you might have on the subject. Thank you for reading. C