A New Type of School, for Entrepreneurs and Adventurers, and the Ability to Spread Peaceful Parenting

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Hi guys,

 

My Academy in Shenzhen (Stella's International Learners' Academy) is looking for great partners.  One of our teachers just quit (I found out he was at Occupy Wall Street and wanted to organize them, UGH!), as did another (he was a socialist I found out after he started working with us).  

 

So forget teachers.  Teachers are too much trouble.  They expect to be paid whether they have full (6+ students) classes or not, they've been resistant to change or coaching, saying the schedule is too demanding, or there's too much change, et c.  They're pretty entitled, pretty soft, and not very interesting.

 

So I'm looking for entrepreneurs.  Those who are tough, hard-working, compassionate, and WANT  to make their fortune doing good work because the opportunity is definitely here.  There is a HUGE market gap for great teaching, which we will help you do.

 

I want to share my success story.  I came out here in May 2014.  I talked to Stef in December 2014 about my situation and some doubts I had about this place (in Call-in Show 2863).  Since then I'm now the CEO.  Now, with the connections I've made, our good reputation, and being around good people, I'm in talks to bring in my peanut butter (a past business venture) to China, full container loads.  I feel like I'm living the American Dream in China.

 

Our vision for school is to turn it into a place which teaches the skills you really need to learn to succeed in life.  And a place which pays its students, rather than the students paying them.  Our big hairy audacious goal is to produce the world's first 18-year old billionaire by 2030.

 

So if this appeals to you, send me a message.  [email protected].  Or reply here.  

 

-Michael McGillicuddy

www.stellateach.me

 

 

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Any entrepreneurs out there?

[luxfelix]

Budding entrepreneur here. 

 

Have you heard of Elon Musk's education project, "Ad Astra"?

[Susana]

Young Proffesional Apprenticeships.

 

Also how is it in such a totalitarian place like China?

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Budding entrepreneur here. 

 

Have you heard of Elon Musk's education project, "Ad Astra"?

No I haven't, please tell me more.  I don't know a lot about Elon Musk besides a real cursory overview of what he's done, and the examples Tai Lopez has given in his talks.

Budding entrepreneur here as well. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around your model. What you want is business ideas that somehow integrate the children into the running of the business, and can pay them for their efforts. Is that right?

Sure; it's a pretty different idea.  

 

What we want is GOOD PEOPLE with an entrepreneurial mindframe.  Even though our Academy focuses on education, it's still a business.  If there's not enough students, that means there's not enough cash.  If we tell people that, they say "Ok well when will we get paid?"  "When we have enough students and enough cash."  "Ok, but WHEN?!"  Do you know what I mean?

 

Rather than paying a set wage, we'd rather pay a set percentage of profit.  And our teaching methods WORK, and the kids love them.  I never had a problem attracting students, because I learned from our founder and worked on my own methods.  

 

Look up my YouTube series: Stella Teaching: Watch the Magic.

 

So there is a huge market gap for GREAT teaching (and I'm only good in that video) here in Shenzhen.  You can make a great living as a foreigner teaching here.  We have decades of teaching experience between us, super-effective teaching methods, a solid Chinese staff, good marketing, and a trusted brand.

 

But you are the one who must MAKE THE CONNECTION WITH YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS, study these teaching methods, improve yourself, learn some neurobiology and how it relates to memory and learning.

 

More specifically, you can be a super badass entrepreneur teacher like this.  You are a writing teacher for young kids.  They come up with a story together as a class (our max. size is 8).  Like 1 person says a sentence, then the next person says a followup sentence, et c.  They love it.  Rather than saying, "Oh that was nice."  WRITE IT DOWN!  Illustrate it!  Teach them how to paint a little bit and then let them make the art for the book.  Teach them math using how many pages the book has, basic addition and subtraction!  PUBLISH THAT SHIT ONLINE! Maybe it won't make a fortune, but divide up the royalties, for a 6-year old, giving them 10 RMB a month is worth its weight in gold.  Give them a percentage of the royalties

 

Teach them most importantly that the work they do has MEANING and a PURPOSE.  '

 

I can tell you my personal example, what I'm up to, but I want to hear what you think, and what the other guys on this forum think.

 

I got excited writing that!

 

-Michael

[luxfelix]

No I haven't, please tell me more.  I don't know a lot about Elon Musk besides a real cursory overview of what he's done, and the examples Tai Lopez has given in his talks.

 

Here are [three article links] from a cursory search about Elon Musk and Ad Astra. 

 

From what I gather, education is ripe for innovation, and Elon Musk is an innovator.

[A4E]

Link to videos on the teaching.

 

Quite amazing! No sitting still and shutting up like in 99.9999 % of all schools.

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Thank you very much!  I'm going to contact him, we're innovators too.

His approach is very similar to ours.  I've gotten a few replies from FDR forum members.  Who else is interested in being part of a school like Elon Musk's.  We've been doing it a little longer than him though.

 

Except Chinese are usually more fun to be around than Americans...At least they think I'm funnier here.

[J-William]

Hi guys,

 

My Academy in Shenzhen (Stella's International Learners' Academy) is looking for great partners. One of our teachers just quit (I found out he was at Occupy Wall Street and wanted to organize them, UGH!), as did another (he was a socialist I found out after he started working with us).

 

So forget teachers. Teachers are too much trouble. They expect to be paid whether they have full (6+ students) classes or not, they've been resistant to change or coaching, saying the schedule is too demanding, or there's too much change, et c. They're pretty entitled, pretty soft, and not very interesting.

 

So I'm looking for entrepreneurs. Those who are tough, hard-working, compassionate, and WANT to make their fortune doing good work because the opportunity is definitely here.

I hear you on the lazy teachers. Where I work we have a very light schedule and ample free time during the work day. I have been spending that time working on language learning programs/apps, making music for the students and developing and enhancing my skills as a teacher... The other teachers watch tv shows, movies or take naps. Only one other teacher even puts much effort into class prep.

 

In the past I have put effort into coaching other teachers and showing them techniques I use... And the only time that I've ever seen any traction was with one guy who was on the edge of not having his contract renewed.

 

So, I doubt it's your intention but your sales pitch comes off a little like you want me to sign up to sell cutco knives. They promise hard work and big rewards and being your own boss... And they have the same contradiction of "be an entrepreneur and work for me!" It's one or the other, you can't have both.

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Thanks for the questions guys, and J-William good for you.  Are there any APPs online yet?  You're the kind of person we are looking for.

 

We're talking about 2 different things here: One is the big picture, the other is the immediate.

 

Immediate: You'd be working out here with us in Shenzhen.  We most likely will have students for you to start with (I don't want to say we will because the situation changes every day).  But we WILL show you how to be a student magnet.  The founder of the school is a magnet, he's been teaching 14 years, and could have amassed a small fortune teaching alone, but it's not his passion.  He wanted to create a children's TV show in China, educational in nature like Sesame Street.  But, all Chinese investors said, "TV is not education.  Puppets, songs, games are not education."  So he had to start a school to show them.  

 

For the business side of it; we make sure our costs are covered (rent, overhead), and then work out a profit share which both agree with.  With the student numbers .  Our partners have to meet quality standards, such as monthly assessments of students, fun home practice assignments to ensure rapid fluency.

 

So we want people who identify as entrepreneurs, and not as teachers. An entrepreneur can become a great teacher pretty easily and simply.  You'd work at our academy, but be acutely aware of the financial situation.  I.e. if a class only has 2 students, that's not enough, and our partner will know "Ok, time to take them outside, have fun, and attract more students."  Not, "Yeah, I'm working on it, but it's difficult you know, they're still not ready."  Or, "I forgot."

 

 

Big Picture: Schools pay students.  Imagine being taught how to support yourself and how to make money from the age of 5, 6, 7 or 8 from people who'd already done it.  Teachers in school are the ANTITHESIS of a self-made person.  Making money and supporting yourself is a skill like any other, and imagine how good you'd be at it by the time you're 17, 18, 19, 20.  However, that's when most people start.  Just ask all the people living with their parents after they graduate college.  Because that's the ostensible point of school right? (I know it's not, but it's what they say).  To prepare you for life AFTER school.  And just about everyone (me included) was not ready to support themself.  And if there wasn't "a job" to find, to create your own.

 

Creativity abounds in young kids.  As does innovation, effort, energy.  But 99.99999% of it is dissipated in useless tasks or sapped by people who can't make it on their own.

 

Does that answer your guys' questions?

 

J-William, where are you located currently?

[bitcoin]

I like the idea of building a school which incorporates, tech, innovation, creativity, parenting, etc. for young children.

 

However, as I read more of your comments I have absolutely no idea what the business model is, how it will sustain itself and be profitable in the future. 

 

Furthermore, its actually possible that paying a 5 year olds to learn would be very destructive. Rather than developing an ambition and intrisic desire and passion to learn and create, they will basically just seek the financial reward, lose a sense of value and have very little understanding of business, entrepreneurship and how to create and obtain capital -- because they spent 15 years getting paid not to work.

 

Entrepreneurs are people who are incredibly ambitious and motivated -- to the point of feeling like they want to conquer the world and beat all competition without any second thought.

 

I can't wrap my head around how paying these children would help them develop this, nor the desire to be creative enough to build something incredlble and generate millions.

 

Where are they getting their understanding of capitalism and business?

 

This does not add up to me.

 

I think the ultimate school will have 3D printers, drones, electronics for children to tinker with, coding stations, virtual reality to watch rocket ships go to mars, older computers to demonstrate how things were not always this advanced and complex -- as well as coloring stations, writing, philosophy, etc.

The child would choose what they would like to learn and pursue that day.

 

Paying a child, again, seems completely backwards. If a child was learning tremendously and developing the skills and ambition to be a successful entrepreneur, how would paying them facilitate that?

 

I don't why it seems assumed to be good for the child. Additionally, I have no idea how the business would grow and be profitable if it were paying students to participate. I don't know where you are generating your capital to even exist right now...?

 

To be honest, I am curious to learn more as I literally don't understand a single thing about your business / school.

 

I simply hope you don't have an Underpants Gnomes Profit Plan:

 

I apologize if I came across as insensitive or harsh. I am actually quite curious but I try to reread your posts, I find myself with less and less of any kind of understanding.

 

I look forward to your reply !

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Alright.  we're not paying kids to do their homework or pass a test.  It's not school.  I'll frontload this: Watch my teaching video series:

 

 

If you can do this, we want you.  I self studied A LOT to engage the kids.  And our founder is a master teacher who can give you everything you need to be fantastic.  We want teaching partners: We cover the costs of running them, and then split the profit.  If you teach in this fun engaging way, study brain science, neurology, education on your own you will make MUCH MORE than a typical salary.  And I'm happy doing it because it takes away the huge headache of bad teachers and allows us to focus on building our dream.

 

 For example a teacher asked, "Hey can I have my salary early so I can move into a new apartment?"  I said should be no problem, but to do this, please study this series of videos from our founder teaching.  Watch it every day until you really understand it.  He agreed.  And then he got his money early, and didn't watch them..........

 

That's short-term: Teach like me in the videos.  Long-term, read below:

 

We've made our own playing cards based on a very popular computer game.  Yesterday we made an announcement to our older kids to come for a special lesson.  About 15 showed up with some parents.  There are 10 cards in a pack.  We made 2 teams and made a game out of an assembly line procedure.  Pick 10 cards, do QC, put a rubber band on them.  Team with the most correct packs after 5 minutes gets a point.  Also points were added for positive attitude, innovation, et c.  Then we asked the kids who showed natural leadership to innovate and make the process more efficient.  Most of the kids are 9 years old.

 

Then we asked them who wanted to go out and sell them.  EVERYONE's hands shot up!  We negotiated a commission percentage, delegated a cashier, a marketer, and then the salespeople.  In an hour we sold 16 packs, just about everyone got a sale, and it was SO cool watching them be super shy at first, and then after 20 minutes running up to people, making deals with other kids, selling them on it.  They were ALIVE, and didn't want to stop.  We want to 

 

So this is the beginning.  But it takes the right kind of person to teach that.  Most teachers I've met here are fucking lazy.  Or depressed.  Or say some joke about it being "Child labor."  That was a "joke" from a teacher who then said (he's Irish): I don't give a fuck about profit margins, or selling cards.  I'm a Teeeeeeeeacher; I'm a care worker.  I'm not a marketer or a salesman, or an advertiser."

 

Your ideal school is what we're building:

 

-One of our students' dads helps run a factory that produces drones and RC planes.  We had lunch last week and he brings his scooters for us to test out.

-Electronics: Our founder was an electrical engineer before becoming a teacher.  We've taken apart computers before with our older students. 

-Coding, we use Minecraft.

-We're partners with an AR firm.  Great ideas for going to Mars.

-3D Printing: Not yet.

-Siftables: Look those up, they're freaking cool.

 

Right now, our profit model is still based mostly on tuitions.  But it's the old system and brings in salary-mentality dudes.

Long term Profit Model: Produce educational content, put it online.  Get royalties from an early age.  But it takes the right kind of person to teach that.

 

Short-Term: There is a market gap for GREAT teaching.  But most don't want it, they just their salary. 

 

Does that answer your questions?

 

 

 

 

 

I like the idea of building a school which incorporates, tech, innovation, creativity, parenting, etc. for young children.

 

However, as I read more of your comments I have absolutely no idea what the business model is, how it will sustain itself and be profitable in the future. 

 

Furthermore, its actually possible that paying a 5 year olds to learn would be very destructive. Rather than developing an ambition and intrisic desire and passion to learn and create, they will basically just seek the financial reward, lose a sense of value and have very little understanding of business, entrepreneurship and how to create and obtain capital -- because they spent 15 years getting paid not to work.

 

Entrepreneurs are people who are incredibly ambitious and motivated -- to the point of feeling like they want to conquer the world and beat all competition without any second thought.

 

I can't wrap my head around how paying these children would help them develop this, nor the desire to be creative enough to build something incredlble and generate millions.

 

Where are they getting their understanding of capitalism and business?

 

This does not add up to me.

 

I think the ultimate school will have 3D printers, drones, electronics for children to tinker with, coding stations, virtual reality to watch rocket ships go to mars, older computers to demonstrate how things were not always this advanced and complex -- as well as coloring stations, writing, philosophy, etc.

The child would choose what they would like to learn and pursue that day.

 

Paying a child, again, seems completely completely backwards. If a child was learning tremendously and developing the skills and ambition to be a successful entrepreneur, how would paying them facilitate that?

 

I don't why it seems assumed to be good for the child. Additionally, I have no idea how the business would grow and be profitable if it were paying students to participate. I don't know where you are generating your capital to even exist right now...?

 

To be honest, I am curious to learn more as I literally don't understand a single thing about your business / school.

 

 

I apologize if I came across as insensitive or harsh. I am actually quite curious but I try to reread your posts, I find myself with less and less of any kind of understanding.

 

I look forward to your reply !

[J-William]

Thanks for the questions guys, and J-William good for you. Are there any APPs online yet? You're the kind of person we are looking for.

 

...

J-William, where are you located currently?

I've got an educational app in the apple AppStore. It's basically just the whiteboard games I use in class so that kids can have some fun with it at home.

 

I'm currently in Ningbo.

 

Have you looked into the models for schools like I think it was called Sudburry... Or something. There was one where younger kids would pay older kids to teach them things Stef mentioned it before.

 

I've been thinking of starting a school for many years and I haven't yet done it, but I am glad I haven't because before I didn't have the work ethic I have now and it would have likely been a failure and unpleasant experience. The idea still interests me and I am interested in models that work and are positive for children.

[MichaelMcGillicuddy]

Sudbury, I'm going to look into that.  Thank you.

 

We're in Shenzhen.  Would you like to talk more on WeChat?  If so, please add me: MichaelMcGillicuddy

[Matt D]

I find it to be a fascinating idea. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pick up at move to China though.

 

Alright.  we're not paying kids to do their homework or pass a test.  It's not school.  I'll frontload this: Watch my teaching video series:

 

Right now, our profit model is still based mostly on tuitions.  But it's the old system and brings in salary-mentality dudes.

Long term Profit Model: Produce educational content, put it online.  Get royalties from an early age.  But it takes the right kind of person to teach that.

 

Short-Term: There is a market gap for GREAT teaching.  But most don't want it, they just their salary. 

 

Does that answer your questions?

 

I'm still somewhat confused about the business model. Speaking long term, is it your goal to make money solely on commission from what the kids sell? Sort of like you get trained in a specific skill, but the return on investment comes from collecting a portion of that person's salary after he or she graduates.