The CEO Teacher® Podcast: Episode 2024 Wrapped – What Worked & What Didn’t

Hosted by Kayse Morris

In the December 18, 2024 episode of The CEO Teacher® Podcast, host Kayse Morris delves into a comprehensive review of the past year, exploring both the successes and challenges faced by her business and personal life. This reflective episode, titled "2024 Wrapped: What Worked & What Didn't," offers invaluable insights for teacher entrepreneurs aiming to elevate their small businesses in the coming year.

Personal Reflections and Life's Seasons

Kayse begins by sharing a candid account of her tumultuous 2024, marked by significant personal upheavals, including a divorce and a devastating hurricane that impacted her hometown. She opens up about the emotional toll these events took, stating:

“It has been a year, y'all. It has been a year between divorce and a major hurricane that caused catastrophic damage to my hometown. … I am so ready to get back to it.” [05:30]

Kayse emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and recognizing one's current life season. She encourages listeners to give themselves grace, understanding that growth is a gradual process:

“Progress is just one step at a time. … I have a tattoo of a butterfly on the back of my arm and it's been a really beautiful reminder that there are seasons when we have to grow in our life.” [12:45]

Evaluating What Didn’t Work in 2024

Morning Routines and Work-Life Balance

One of the significant changes Kayse attempted was joining the 5am Club, aiming to enhance productivity. Initially, she found joy and energy in early mornings:

“I got up, got dressed for the gym, got to the gym, was so happy, left the gym, best mood ever…” [18:10]

However, the reality of managing four children, a new puppy, and her evolving work schedule proved overwhelming. By mid-afternoon, the strain became evident:

“I was at swim practice, like in tears, picking up my 14-year-old… I could barely keep my eyes open.” [19:50]

This experience taught Kayse the necessity of flexible routines tailored to personal and professional demands.

Spiritual and Community Engagement

Previously, Kayse attended church every Sunday with her children, a practice that provided spiritual grounding. Post-divorce, maintaining this routine became challenging:

“I get really sad when I have to go to church without my kids. … I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my spiritual self as much as I need to.” [22:30]

Kayse acknowledges the need to adapt spiritual practices to fit her new circumstances, highlighting the struggle to balance personal well-being with familial responsibilities.

Communication and Availability

In striving to support her family during a difficult year, Kayse found it challenging to stay responsive to emails, messages, and calls, leading to a temporary decline in communication efficiency:

“I have gotten really slack on answering messages such as emails, Instagram messages, text messages, phone calls.” [26:15]

Recognizing this, she is now seeking ways to improve communication while prioritizing family time.

Strategies that Worked in 2024

Data-Driven Decision Making

Kayse credits data-driven strategies as a cornerstone of her business's success:

“Making informed business decisions… shifting our Instagram strategy into one that was more real focused…” [30:45]

Implementing tools like ManyChat enabled automated direct messaging, significantly boosting her email list and free leads. Although Instagram’s algorithm changes eventually diminished this strategy's effectiveness, the initial results underscored the value of leveraging data to guide marketing efforts.

Expanding Offerings to Meet Audience Needs

Understanding that one-size-fits-all solutions were limiting, Kayse and her team diversified their product offerings. They moved beyond a single membership model to create varied entry points for entrepreneurs at different stages:

“We realized that it may not be the best decision for some people in the beginning of their businesses at the price point that we had increased it to.” [35:20]

This approach fostered community growth and ensured accessibility, even if it meant lower immediate profits.

Establishing Clear Priorities and Flexible Workweeks

Kayse instituted a flexible workweek for herself and her team, promoting a balance between work and personal life:

“We created a flexible work week. … We are very busy during our launch seasons… But when it's not launch season, we are very, very considerate of how we want to live our lives.” [40:10]

This adaptability allowed her team to maintain productivity during peak times while honoring personal commitments, enhancing overall job satisfaction and efficiency.

Mental Health Support and Personal Development

Acknowledging the importance of mental health, Kayse began therapy and reinforced her commitment to personal growth through self-help books:

“Implementing self-help books again… we have to keep working on ourselves each and every day.” [43:55]

Additionally, joining Jeff Walker's Plat+ Mastermind provided a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs, contributing to her professional and personal development:

“I have recognized that I am the dumbest person in the room and that feels so good for my growth.” [48:20]

Four Tips for Reviewing Your Year

Kayse offers four actionable tips to help listeners reflect on 2024 and prepare for 2025:

1. Revisit Your Business Plan and Values

   • Define core values to guide business decisions and align with personal principles.
   • Example values include “be a good human” and “family first.”

2. Celebrate Your Accomplishments

   • Acknowledge even the smallest victories to maintain motivation.
   • Kayse advises against the constant comparison fostered by social media.

3. Identify What Didn’t Work

   • Accept and understand areas that need improvement without self-blame.
   • Use setbacks as learning opportunities and adjust strategies accordingly.

4. Set New Goals for the Future

   • Establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
   • Utilize planners to organize and track progress throughout the year.

“Whenever I plan my life, my life falls into place. … Success isn't a one step miracle. … It takes small, consistent steps.” [52:05]

Looking Ahead to 2025

Kayse expresses optimism for 2025, aiming to implement the lessons learned from the past year. She plans to:

• Refine workout routines to support mental and physical health.
• Reengage with spiritual practices in a way that aligns with her current life situation.
• Enhance communication strategies to balance business and family responsibilities.
• Continue personal development through therapy, self-help resources, and mastermind groups.

Conclusion

In this deeply personal and professionally insightful episode, Kayse Morris provides a roadmap for teacher entrepreneurs to navigate their own challenges and capitalize on strategies that foster growth. By sharing her vulnerabilities and triumphs, she empowers her listeners to reflect, adapt, and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of teacher-led businesses.

Host Information: Kayse Morris (@kaysemorris) is the creator behind the CEO Teacher® movement, supporting over 3,000 educators in transforming their teaching skills into successful online businesses. For more resources and to join the community, visit kaysemorris.com.

Subscribe and Listen: With over 1 million downloads and hundreds of episodes, The CEO Teacher® Podcast is the #1 teacher education podcast worldwide. Subscribe on your favorite platform to stay updated with weekly insights and strategies.

Remember, the best is yet to come. Join Kayse on this journey to make 2025 your most successful year yet!