Tannenbaum Tech - 5/3/2021: Unlocking Unlimited Potential on the Road to Awesome

Back in March, I joined "Unlocking Unlimited Potential on the Road to Awesome." This collaboration between Darrin Peppard and Brandon Beck was created to help educators take their career goals to the next level through coaching. "Inspire-Grow-Connect-Launch"- those words serve as inspirational mantras for this group. I am so fortunate to not only be part of this group, but get to connect with so many amazing educators doing so. Being part of this group has served as an inspiration as I watch fellow educators grow and share my progress as well.

We started this adventure back on March 14th. One of the first things we did was develop a RPM- Results, Purpose, Massive Action Plan. I have to admit that at first, this totally overwhelmed me. I wanted to develop a plan for my future company, TannenbaumTech, but I honestly had no idea how to do that. So I started with small steps, looking at my purpose.

Why was this so important to me?
Why do I want to do this?
How will it make me feel?

Sometimes, things happen at just the right time and while I was participating in this experience, I was also working on Ignite Your Legacy. Through that work, I was able to develop my pillars- the values of TannenbaumTech. I was able to determine my mission and vision as well. Before I even realized it, I was adding steps to my Massive Action Plan.

I remember going back to my RPM and adding those steps. It was then it hit me. That wasn't all I was doing. I was regularly connecting with other edupreneurs. As a result, I was working on my refining my website with Jeff Gargas. I started reading the "One Thing" by Gary Keller. I started researching starting a business looking into LLC, sole proprietorships, and more. Once again, at first, I felt overwhelmed. But now, I take that fear as a sign to move forward. I contacted a colleague who had started his own business, realized one of my coworkers had an LLC, and before I knew it, I was ready.

On Saturday, May 1, I became a business owner. TannenbaumTech LLC is now a business in Virginia. I can't tell you how excited I am. But more than just the piece of paper that now hangs on the wall behind my desk, this symbolizes a great meaning. Growing up all I ever wanted was to be an educator. Back then, being an educator meant teaching in a classroom for 20-25 years. I could have never imagined then where I would be now.

Now, I love my job as a tech coach. I not only get to work with teachers and help them transform learning with technology, but work with students too. But, I am more than solely a tech coach in one building. In the past 27 months, I have been blogging and sharing my ideas, reflections, and technology tips globally. I am not only a blogger, but I am a speaker, having presented at over 25 conferences virtually globally. I am a website curator, sharing my story with the world. This weekend, I became a business owner. In a few short weeks, I will be a published author.

Awesome things can happen when you believe in yourself and take small, strategic steps to get there. Chapter 8 of my upcoming book shares some of the ways that you too can reach beyond your expectations. Don't be afraid to believe in yourself. We all have a story that only we can tell. We need to open ourselves up to the possibilities within it. See how each interaction builds and crafts our story. We get to unlock our unlimited potential on the road to awesome, but that starts with a decision from each of us: the decision to start.