Independent Consulting
From LiteracyTentWiki
From: Brian, Dr Donna J G <mailto:djgbrian at utk.edu>
To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List workplace@nifl.gov
Date: Friday, January 05, 2007 6:02 PM
Subject: [Workplace 531] Re: Hello from a new member
We have such a lot of expertise on this list! I'm interested in
your background and how you came to start this business, Jill. Did you
have a background in adult education along with being a linguistic
anthropologist? There is such a great amount of stress on our adult
educators what with the uncertainty of future funding of programs that
some of them may want to consider starting their own businesses as you
did.
Thanks to Ronna for sharing the information about the list.
That's a great way to increase our membership!
Donna
Donna Brian, Moderator
Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Center for Literacy Studies at The University of Tennessee
djgbrian at utk.edu
Subject: [Workplace 533] Upcoming Conference
From: Jennifer Coplin jennifer at eastcoastlearning.com
Date: Sat Jan 6 07:40:48 EST 2007
I, too, am an adult educator who started my own business. I have an Ed.D. in Adult Ed from NCSU. I have a BBA in Marketing. I have been on my own for 12 years, and I recommend it. As an independent, you make your own job security by being relevant and serving important needs well.
Jennifer Coplin
Sales and Customer Support
Aztec Learning Software / East Coast Learning
6071 Bob Daniel Road
Oxford, NC 27565
Ph 888 615 8301
Fx 919 603 1878
jennifer at eastcoastlearning.com
www.aztecsoftware.com
Subject: [Workplace 535] Independent Contractors
From: Brian, Dr Donna J G djgbrian at utk.edu
Date: Sat Jan 6 12:18:11 EST 2007
When I look at each of these independent contractors' websites, it's
obvious that each has found or created a niche (rather broad niches, at
that!) for their interests and expertise. I may be getting into a
hornet's nest here in asking about your businesses because the purpose
of the list is not to advertise businesses but rather to share
information about workplace literacy, but you both have done a good job
of presenting your information without overtly drumming up business, and
I think your experiences would be of interest to adult educators on the
list who have been considering how to stay in their field of interest
but make a living too. Are there other list members who have
experiences to share? And are there questions from list members for
Jennifer and Jill and others who work independently about their work?
Donna
Subject: [Workplace 540] Re: Independent Contractors
From: Ronna ronna at workplaceesl.com
Date: Sat Jan 6 22:15:22 EST 2007
I too would be happy to help those who are interested in starting their own
gig. I have presented the topic, "Starting your own Workplace ESL Business"
at the last CATESOL and at the last 4 or so TESOL (minus last year)
Conventions. Because I get so many requests for this sort of training, I
developed a workplace ESL certification seminar where I train about 5 people
a month who fly here to Vegas for a day's training. I would be happy to
chat with anyone over the phone or answer questions anytime (for no cost of
course). I started my company 16 years ago. I only started hiring teachers
in 1998 and am still pretty small. I, like Jill have a young child, and I
sort of let my company grow only via word of mouth and my website I guess.
I have 14 teachers who work for me and I let them do most of the teaching at
this point. BUT whenever I speak to Jill or someone else who is newer at
this, I get motivated all over again to grow my business. All of you should
keep your eye on Jill's company. I think she has what it takes to be very
successful. She is highly motivated and makes good decisions. My company
has been teaching WESL and Workplace Spanish for a long time and have
learned the hard way what works and what doesn't. I still don't have all
the answers, but I have a lot of them :)
Again, I'd be happy to share information. It's really important that we all
are charging enough. Jill and I compare notes and we charge similar rates.
If we charge $25 an hour, that's what value they will perceive they are
getting. We need to charge at least $100 an hour, but the company needs to
perceive they are getting value for their dollar. It is our job to sell
them on the measurable benefits to their bottom line.
We are professional trainers and facilitators, not teachers. It's a
different side to TESOL in my opinion.
Happy weekend all of you!
Ronna
HYPERLINK "http://www.workplaceesl.com/" \n Making Success The Common Language!
Ronna Timpa
Author, Leader & Motivator Workplace ESL Solutions
HYPERLINK
"http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=55+South+Valle+Verde+%23235-110&csz=Henderson%2C+NV+89012&country=us" \n55 South Valle Verde#235-110
Henderson, NV 89012
Subject: [Workplace 536] Re: Hello from a new member
From: Jill K. Bishop jill at workforcelanguageservices.com
Date: Sat Jan 6 17:17:36 EST 2007
I was originally a high school Spanish teacher, but I also taught English in
Israel (high school), Argentina (adult) and the US (adult). I decide to get
my MA/PhD in Linguistic Anthropology out of an interest in the intersection
of language and culture. I had planned to continue in academia, focusing on
language ideology and revitalization, but I ended up taking a job with
Chipotle Mexican Grill in charge of language and culture programs for 130 of
their restaurants. I was amazed that a job like that existed, and I really
enjoyed such a concrete application of my academic background in combination
with my love of teaching. I quickly realized that there was a tremendous
opportunity to work with companies that didn't have the luxury of full-time
staff devoted exclusively to such programs, and I began to plan my exit.
This was just two years ago, and I've been building my business ever since.
There's a lot of educating clients as to why this type of training is
important and worth their while, but thankfully, there are also a lot of
people out there who don't need convincing - they just need the budget!
I'm happy to talk to anyone who's considering making the leap.
Jill
Jill K. Bishop, PhD
President
Workforce Language Services, LLC
Office: 773.292.5500 | Cell: 312.493.9497
<http://www.workforcelanguageservices.com/>
www.workforcelanguageservices.com
Subject: [Workplace 542] Re: Independent Contractors
From: Brooke Toomey brookestoomey at yahoo.com
Date: Sun Jan 7 09:35:11 EST 2007
Dear Ronna,
Thank you very much for offering to help and advise novice entrepreneurs. I am currently working on a great project and have a group of Harvard Business School students working with me as consultants, so if it's alright I would love to speak with you soon and share thoughts. I feel like the timing of all this information on the listserve is perfect!
Please let me know if you prefer email or phone and when is convenient for you to talk.
Thank you again and kind regards,
Brooke
Subject: [Workplace 549] Re: Independent Contractors
From: Judy West etwjw at earthlink.net
Date: Thu Jan 11 09:08:33 EST 2007
I am also an ESL language trainer with my own business for the
past ten years, and I would second what Jennifer, Jill, and Ronna have
already said.
It is a wonderful way to use your teaching/training skills to help people
communicate more effectively at work while having some control over your
schedule, pay, and work/life balance.
I think it is important to develop a niche in terms of what you teach and
who your clients are. That may change over time as the market for your services changes.
Word of mouth and referrals have been the best way for me to get business. Marketing
with a fancy brochure did little for me other than establish credibility. I agree, however,
that a website is a must.
I have met other independent contractors at local and national TESOL conferences.
The ESP (English for Specific Purposes) section of TESOL often has workshops/meetings
that include workplace training/trainers.
Judy West
English That Works, Inc.
215-493-4952
jwest at englishthatworksinc.com
www.englishthatworksinc.com
Dear consultants,
I, too, am interested in talking with someone with a little more experience about what the going rates are, effective marketing strategy, etc. I have a small workplace ESL business and also I freelance quite a bit for other organizations.
If anyone has time to talk, I would love to get in touch by phone or e-mail.
Kim Hitchcock
kim@elcschicagoland.com
(773) 844-7357
December 31, 2007
