David Stowell

Overwhelm -
"There's so much to do...where do I start?" "What should I do next?" "How can I do the 'business stuff' when I'm teaching all the time?" "I can't get it all done." " As soon as I complete one thing, ten more pop up that need my immediate attention." "I'm working too many hours everyday." "I wonder what my house looks like in the daylight."

 Overwhelm happens for three reasons:

1. Too much to do
2. Don't know what to do
3. Know what to do but can't bring yourself to do it

Owning your own business is never easy and always requires a "serious" time commitment.

One of the ironies of owning a business is this:

If your work is ever finished,
you are in trouble!

As an employee, your job is to finish your work. As a business owner, your job is to constantly create work! If you haven't created work, you've got nothing to do...other than create work. It's truly a never ending cycle.

But it doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't have to live in constant overwhelm.

Isolation
Who understands your business other than you? Have you ever had a business "expert" come in and take a look? They usually shake their heads and advise you to give it up.

And you aren't going to talk to people in your own town, because they are your competition!

Who understands you and your business? People across the country who are in the same business. People who have been there and found solutions.

It's pretty easy to feel all alone...especially when you are overwhelmed by 16 to 20 hour work days!

Frustration -
What happens when you get tired? Or when you keep running up against the same obstacles and you have no better strategies? Or you just don't know what to do to make it better.

Where do you go when there is no teacher's room to hang out in?

And your spouse is tired of hearing about all the details. Sometimes they politely suggest you just go back to your old job!

Where do you get answers when it isn't working?

 A Solution -
The Learning100 web site is designed to be a resource for people in educational private practice. The articles, downloads, and especially the discussion forums can give multiple perspectives and directions in solving the business challenges. By setting up a 24 hour a day place to post questions and get answers, you have a group of "like minded" people rooting for your success.

Think of this as a gathering place...we are all on separate but parallel journeys. Join us as we grow together. Don't let the "big three" destroy your dreams. With encouragement from others in our field, we can bring help to the struggling students who are searching for us.