Freelancer or Business Owner? with Rachael Roberts

Freelancer or Business Owner? with Rachael Roberts

Author: TESOL Pop February 13, 2024 Duration: 13:10

Founder of Earn Learn Thrive, Rachael Roberts, discusses the nuances between freelancing and business ownership in education. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Rachael offers valuable insights for educators wanting to move from employment into business ownership.


KEY TALKING POINTS


Defining Freelancing vs. Business Ownership

Rachael explores the distinction between freelancing and business ownership, emphasizing the importance of viewing oneself as a business owner regardless of terminology.


Shifting Mindset for Success

Rachael highlights the significance of adopting a business mindset, empowering freelancers to take control of their careers and attract higher-quality clients.


Getting Started While Employed

Rachael addresses the common dilemma of starting a business while employed, offering practical advice on balancing employment with entrepreneurial pursuits.


Building Your Business Step-by-Step

Rachael shares strategies for launching a business gradually, emphasising the importance of identifying target clients, understanding their needs, and offering tailored solutions.


Organic Marketing for Educators

Rather than traditional sales tactics, Rachael advocates for organic marketing, which focuses on building relationships and providing value to attract ideal clients.


Sustainable Growth and Client Relationships

Laura and Rachael discuss the misconception that a successful business requires numerous clients, emphasising the value of cultivating long-term relationships with the right clients.


ABOUT

Rachael Roberts is a qualified coach with 30 years of ELT industry experience as a teacher, teacher trainer and materials writer, including 15 years as a thriving small business owner. Rachael is on a mission to help ELT freelancers break free from being underpaid and undervalued.


Through her foundation course (The Confident Freelancing Roadmap) and membership (The Confident ELT Freelancer Collective), as well as her group programme (Designed to Flourish), she aims to challenge the low expectations and the culture of ‘having to’ accept poor conditions, and teach ELT freelancers the steps they can take to build sustainable, fulfilling businesses.


Visit Earn Learn Thrive to learn more.


TRANSCRIPT

Watch with closed captions.


SUPPORT

Say thanks with coffee.


LEARN TO PODCAST WITH LAURA

Podcast Pathfinder programme


CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our inspiring guest, Rachael Roberts.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

TESOL Pop
Podcast Episodes
How EdTech is Transforming Teaching – with Kate Bodrova @Amazy.uk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:23
Kate Bodrova, co-founder and CEO of Amazy, explores how technology is positively impacting teaching. Kate shares insights on how Amazy helps educators create and share interactive, media-rich resources while streamlining…
Bringing Research into Your Classroom – with Amira Salama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Amira Salama shares insights on practitioner research and how everyday classroom experiences can contribute to meaningful research. She challenges traditional notions of research and highlights how teachers are already e…
Rethinking Gamification in  Adult Learning – with Jade Arthur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
Jade Arthur explores the concept of gamification in teaching adult learners. In this episode, Laura and Jade dive into common misconceptions about gamification, discuss the importance of intrinsic motivation, and share a…
Curating Immersive English Experiences – with Ruth Pringle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:36
Founder of Blue Noun, Ruth Pringle, discusses her innovative approach to immersive English learning. Ruth shares how combining outdoor exploration, artistic activities, and community engagement transforms English learner…
Teaching Tips for Translanguaging – with Josianne Block [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
Senior Teaching Associate Josianne Block shares insights on how embracing learners’ linguistic resources can enhance communication, foster inclusivity, and create a more dynamic learning environment.Watch with closed cap…
From Teacher to Teacherpreneur – with Shélynn Riel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:02
Shélynn Riel explores what it means to be a teacherpreneur and shares insights on how teachers can transition to entrepreneurship and leverage their skills to build flexible, impactful careersWatch the episode with close…
Finding What Works for You as a Learner – with Urmi Hossain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:35
Multilingual speaker Urmi Hossain joins us to share her experiences learning multiple languages and the personalised strategies she’s developed. Urmi’s learning journey highlights the importance of finding methods that r…
Start Building the Career You Want – with Martin Hajek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:45
Author Martin Hajek talks about the importance of role models and access to information to make informed decisions about our careers in the English Language Teaching industry. Martin shares three stories from his latest…