Looking Forward: What I'm Focusing on In 2023 Teacher Blog Academy by Side Hustle Teachers

With a new year, comes new possibilities. Looking forward is so important for content creators, but rarely do we give ourselves time to do it.
If I’m totally honest, I haven’t been good about giving myself enough white space to think about my business for several years. 
When Side Hustle Teachers started, I didn’t expect it to become so popular so fast. I really had to keep my nose to the grindstone and fix the little issues that sprang up… seemingly one right after another. It didn’t leave me a lot of time for reflection, and certainly not for projection.
This year, however, I’m not only demanding that I be more deliberate about the choices I make, but also about creating more time and space in my life so I can reflect on where I’ve been and think about where I want to go.
I have to constantly remind myself that my business is not school. I can take my time to consider my current situation. I can take my time to examine the options I have. I can take my time making a decision. And I can take my time implementing that decision based on my wants and needs.
So this year I’ve been contemplating this business I’ve built, and how I can move it forward in a sustainable way, and grow the company I want.
Let’s dive into my key areas of focus for 2023. Some of them might surprise you.
Rule #1: Simplicity is King I’ve always been a fan of the KISS rule - keep it simple, stupid - but it’s never as easy to implement as it is to spout to others… or needlepoint on a pillow.
In 2023 simplicity is going to be my guiding star.
The longer I’m in business, the more I realize that I don’t want to hustle. I want ease. (And yes, I realize the irony of rebelling against hustle when my company is called Side Hustle Teachers.)
For a while I’ve been using one question to decide whether or not to take on something new; Is this going to bring ease to my life?
This simple question has allowed me to say no without guilt, hire help to get things done that I’ve been putting off for ages, and give my attention to things that are building my business and bringing me joy.
To be clear, I’m making simplicity a priority in all areas of my life, not just business. We’re in the (extremely slow) process of getting rid of stuff that’s been piling up, and we’re focusing on creating experiences instead of giving physical gifts. We’re not trying to be minimalists… but clearing physical space allows me to find more mental space… 
Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.
Elimination, Automation, Delegation To aid my search for simplicity, I’m following the eliminate, automate, and delegate model.
First - and this part has been happening for a while - I’m on the hunt for things I’m doing that aren’t necessary, or that can wait, or that are just a big ol’ waste of time. 
Entrepreneurs in all fields have a habit of taking on more and more to-dos until our lives are completely out of balance. This is very easy for side hustlers to do, especially teachers, because our jobs are already taking up our time and energy.
I’ll talk about a few things I’m dropping in the new year in the following sections.
The second step of this process is to automate whatever possible.
I’ve long been a fan of automation. It’s literally been essential to being able to grow my business while teaching full-time.  I automate my email marketing, my social media posting… even my Facebook “Lives” are pre-recorded because my family schedule doesn’t allow me to be available every Wednesday at 9pm.
Just note that before you start automating, you eliminate. There are a ton of tools available to help you automate pretty much anything, but most of them will cost you money, and they require time and energy to set up. Don’t waste your limited time and money on tools that help you with things you don’t even need to be doing.
Finally, if there are things that are keeping you from moving forward or making money, it’s time to conside