Big, wild dreams are the stuff of entrepreneurial home runs but – as our guest on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur explains – dreams alone are not enough. Heather Smith, an interactive storytelling pioneer, could never have gotten her transformational video platform off the ground without a clear focus on exactly the need she was filling and the tenacity to make her idea a reality. Based on her experience curating immersive storytelling exhibits, Heather deeply understood the power of multidimensional interviews to capture the historic experience of Holocaust survivors. Convinced that in fact everyone has a worthwhile story to tell and share, she got to work on StoryFile, a cutting-edge technology that enables us to record our personal histories via custom formats in a cloud-based environment that makes memories accessible to friends, family and colleagues now and in perpetuity.
Heather walks Host Dori Stewart through her evolution into the role of tech entrepreneur, a journey she is not sugar-coating. Purpose, passion, financial resources and lots of emotional support were essential when it came to taking this long, iterative odyssey. Says Heather: Innovation take times, patience, stamina – and a team to keep you motivated and moving forward even on the toughest days. StoryFile’s technology wasn’t an obvious slam-dunk out of the gate, but Heather never lost sight of the mission. As a result, we now have a platform that removes the boundaries of time and space, leveraging video as a gateway to all kinds of conversations with all kinds of individuals, whenever and wherever we want. Heather has literally brought a vision to life!
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Here are key takeaways from the conversation:
· From “wild idea” to thriving business: People sometimes need time to catch up with your creative vision. Build that expectation into your timeline!
· It’s okay to iterate! You don’t have to wait for perfection to launch your platform.
· Never underestimate the importance of having a supportive team in it with you for the long haul!
· Excitement and a “wow” idea will take you only so far. Does what you have to offer fill an actual need?
· Launching a big thing: It’s stressful and tiring – but so exhilarating! Prepare yourself for a crazy, but deeply gratifying, ride!
Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?
It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!
Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.
