Episode No. 1 Summary

In this episode of the Routine Your Dream Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I built a teacher online business with wildly inconsistent effort—yet still created predictable passive income streams. If you’ve ever felt behind or too overwhelmed to be “that entrepreneur,” this episode is your permission slip to go strategic instead of going hard.

If you’ve ever looked at full-time entrepreneurs and thought, “There’s no way I could do that while teaching,” …you’re not alone.

Truth is, I’ve never had a perfectly color-coded content calendar or a 6AM CEO routine (I’ve tried many o’ times). But what I *have* had is strategic, intentional pockets of effort—and somehow, that was enough to build a business that sustained me through wedding planning, moving out of state, and living on my terms.

I’m sharing the real journey behind how I built a passive income stream on TeachersPayTeachers (aka TPT) while teaching full time—no “hustle” required, because I sure didn’t.

The Reality of Inconsistent Effort (and Why It Still Worked)

Let’s be real. For most of my teaching career, I worked on my business with what can only be described as… *laughably inconsistent energy.*

I wasn’t working 20 hours a week on my business. I wasn’t batch posting content every Sunday. There were entire *months* where I didn’t touch my store, update a product, or post to Instagram—and yet, income still came in.

Why?

Because when I *did* show up, I got strategic. I focused on activities that had long-term payoff instead of day-to-day maintenance. It wasn’t hustle. It was leverage.

How My Teacher Business Grew in Stages

At first, my goal was simple: extra gas money. Then it became upgrading my grocery cart with organic products.

Eventually, it became a consistent $1,000+/month I could come to rely on—even when I didn’t log in for 30 days straight (or more). That stability gave me the freedom to fund my wedding and honeymoon without stress.

Then my TPT store matched my husband’s salary and it allowed him to transition to pursuing his own real estate business without worrying about a consistent paycheck. And when I moved from Ohio to North Carolina, I wasn’t scrambling to take the first teaching job that came my way.

My business gave me breathing room. And it grew in *very realistic* stages:

First: 💵 $100–$200/month: Just-in-case money  

Next: 🛒 $500/month: Guilt-free groceries + classroom extras like my favorite little ikea couch

Then: 💸 $1,000+/month: Real lifestyle impact started (paying off student loans, traveling)

The Teacherpreneur Shift From Chaos to Strategy

Before I got intentional, my workflow was a whirlwind of:

– Chasing Instagram engagement  

– Googling random things everyone else was doing like, ‘how to use Tailwind’  

– Randomly updating TPT product covers and previews with no rhyme or reason 

– Half-starting three marketing plans at once

Eventually, I stopped asking, “What’s the next thing I *could* do?” and started asking, “What’s the one thing that will work the hardest *for* me?”

That’s when I learned the power of focused, repeatable tasks—things that compound even when I’m not “on” because Lord knows I’m the epitome of when I’m on I’m on and when I’m off, I’m offfff.

Leveraging My Teacher Commute to Increase My TPT Sales

When I started working in a district that was 30–40 minutes from home, I turned my car into a classroom.

It’s an actual strategy called “Automobile University.”

Every day, I listened to podcasts and audiobooks on business, personal growth, and digital marketing. Over time, those commutes added up to a *massive* mindset shift. I no longer saw myself as “just a teacher dabbling in business.” I started seeing myself as a creator with authority—and that changed everything.

Bonus? You don’t have to carve out extra time. Learning happens passively. That’s the whole point. It was my secret weapon to success.

Your Next Step

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a place to start.

Pick one takeaway from this episode—whether it’s shifting your mindset about consistency, committing to learning during your commute, or finally organizing your tasks by ROI—and *run with it*.

Then screenshot this post or podcast episode, tag me on Instagram @routineyourdream, and tell me your favorite takeaway.

Let’s normalize building sustainable businesses at our own pace.

FAQ

Q: Can I build a passive income business if I only have a few hours a week?

A: Absolutely. That’s exactly how I did it. Focus on high-impact activities that can keep working *after* you’re done working.

Q: What is “Automobile University”?

A: It’s turning your commute into a classroom—listening to podcasts or audiobooks that grow your skills passively.

Q: I’m in survival mode as a teacher. Should I wait to start?

A: Start with tiny, doable actions. Even one mindset shift or micro-habit can move the needle long-term.

Loved this episode?
Tag me on Instagram @routineyourdream with your favorite takeaway or aha moment! Use the hashtag #RoutineYourDream so I can find you!