The CEO Teacher Podcast: Episode Summary

Episode Title: 3 Business Ideas for Teachers: Which One is Right for Me? (Hall of Fame Episode)
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Kayse Morris
Guests: Tara Tuchel, Desiree McGee Green, Courtney Morgan

Episode Overview

In this special “Hall of Fame” episode, Kayse Morris brings together three standout members from the CEO Teacher® community to showcase real-life examples of educators building diverse online businesses. Each guest represents a distinct pathway—membership, coaching, and courses—and shares honest insights about evolving from classroom teacher to entrepreneur. Listeners will learn about the struggles, mindset shifts, and successes that can come from choosing and sticking with a teacher business model. The discussion is full of practical, heartfelt advice and inspiring stories for teachers considering new ways to use their expertise and passion beyond the traditional classroom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction of Guests & Their Business Models

[02:37–04:28]

• Tara Tuchel (Membership): Speech-language pathologist specializing in autism; creates resources for parents and teachers of young children with autism. Resonates with Maggie, “the membership mastermind.”
• Desiree McGee Green (Coaching): Former elementary teacher and instructional coach; now helps literacy educators master conferring; aligns with Katie, “the coach.”
• Courtney Morgan (Courses): Longtime teacher now supporting educators of English learners; surprised to find her fit as Kesha, “the course creator.”

2. Early Business Struggles & Finding Clarity

[05:03–07:41]

• Guests candidly describe overwhelming early days:
  • Desiree: "I was spending long nights and weekends just trying to figure out what to even create." [05:08]
  • Courtney: "I was completely clueless. COVID had started, and I was like, what's this thing? … It took me joining the course and seeing what was possible to realize, oh my goodness, this could become an actual business." [06:20]
  • Tara: "I Googled everything, I YouTubed everything to figure out how to do it. So my advice would be, don't do that. Join a program where they can walk you through it." [09:14]

3. The Power of Community, Coaching, and a Step-by-Step Path

[12:14–16:34]

• The group highlights the benefit of guided programs over self-directed learning:

  • Tara: "It's more of a linear process rather than finding little landmines everywhere." [12:14]
  • Desiree: "The CEO Teacher® program solves that because I have a place I can go when I get stuck or need feedback." [12:44]
  • Courtney: "Everything is presented through this lens of teachers … it reduces my cognitive load." [13:25]

• Favorite program aspects:

  • Tara: "Coaching calls … there's always actionable steps that come out of it." [14:50]
  • Desiree: "It's the community. … I just get so inspired and my creative juices flow when I see examples of what other teachers are doing." [15:07]
  • Courtney: "It's the accountability. … It was that sense of, oh, all these other people are working on their things, too." [15:36]

4. Mindset Shifts From Teacher to CEO Teacher

[17:28–22:05]

• Desiree: “I was making a set salary, right. That was my cap … but then I realized I can have the type of life where I use my passions and not be capped with a salary. … and work less hours at the same time, which is crazy to me. That’s how my mindset shifted.” [17:28]
• Tara on abundance: “There is enough money and goodness out there for each and every one of us. … That abundance mindset changed everything for me.” [18:47]
  • Financial success as unexpected and transformative: “Now my love for travel and stuff. I don't have to worry if I want to go to Arizona with girlfriends … just the experiences that having some more financial freedom has brought and not having that paycheck-to-paycheck worry.” [19:32]
• Courtney: "It was this sense of empowerment… tapping into something that can help me fully utilize all the skills and abilities and passion that I have on this scale that has no limit." [21:08]

5. Inspiration and Supporting Each Other

[23:02–24:52]

• The guests share about who inspires them in the CEO Teacher® community:
  • Tara: “Beth Hall … she always is super positive and she's on task like I am. … I really appreciated her support.” [23:35]
  • Courtney: “Ms. Jocelyn at ITeachcustom and Jay at Joyful Math. … They are so full of light and joy with what they do. Every time they share something, I'm inspired and I learn something new.” [23:57]
  • Desiree: "Kim ... she was very positive and encouraging when I first started. ... She just kept me going every month.” [24:07]

6. Reflections on the Future of Education

[25:20–28:37]

• Guest perspectives on change brought by COVID-19:
  • Tara: “So many more options for meeting with families and connecting with them. … To hop on a Zoom meeting for parent teacher conferences or to show them how to use a strategy with their child, it has really opened up things for them.” [25:38]
  • Courtney: “It's kind of shined a light on some inequities … The idea of equity in education is really big right now.” [26:44]
  • Desiree: “A lot of students didn't have a laptop or access to internet … and it's been a challenge for families and teachers, especially for engagement.” [27:41]

7. What Does Freedom Look Like?

[29:24–31:42]

• Courtney: “For me, [freedom is] sleeping in when I feel like sleeping in. … Being able to choose my daily schedule, do my peloton workout when I want to … Just that time flexibility would be so nice.” [29:24]
• Desiree: “Financial freedom is my husband having more time with our son and not feeling like he has to work, work, work to provide for our family. … Just being able to just watch my favorite show, decorate the house, those are all things that give me joy.” [29:52]
• Tara: “Financial freedom, of course. … I've paid off all my debt. … Now my next piece is I would like to retire early." [30:46]

8. Top Advice for Teachers Starting a Business

[32:12–34:52]

• Tara: "Action brings clarity. … If you don't just do it, you're never going to know what things you need to tweak or change. … Just jump in and do it." [32:12]
• Courtney: “Be patient and keep your gaze forward. … Try to get your mindset game straight as quickly as possible. Build that confidence in yourself from the inside out.” [32:51]
• Desiree: “Deciding on what your main thing is as quickly as possible. … Write down what your big dreams and goals are. … When you see it every day, it just helps you to stay focused and it motivates you." [33:50]

Memorable Quotes

• Kayse Morris:
  "You sound like you've got it all figured out… but I want to hear about what life was like before you found that confidence." [04:28]

• Courtney Morgan:
  “Once I started, I just started loving it and soaking it up and realizing that… all of the things in life that I enjoyed… were suddenly coming together into what was becoming this vision.” [06:20]

• Tara Tuchel:
  “When you have, when you combine like your passion with something that you’re really good at and where there’s a need out there… it just keeps coming.” [11:04]

  “If you like to learn this step-by-step way, you need to go through with someone that has done it before that knows what those steps actually are.” [12:32]

• Desiree McGee Green:
  “I realized I could have more than that and that I can have the type of life where I can use my passions and not be capped with a salary…” [17:28]

• Courtney Morgan:
  “This is a journey… When I chose to stay connected, to stay integrated… you build on that energy, you feed off of that energy, and it kind of propels you forward.” [15:36]

  “It was this sense of empowerment… tapping into something that can help me fully utilize all the skills and abilities and passion that I have on this scale that has no limit.” [21:08]

• Tara Tuchel (on Money Mindset):
  “There is enough money and goodness out there for each and every one of us. It’s not a competition between any of us or between any of the people in the niches us. Like, we all bring our special flavor and perspective.” [18:47]

• Desiree McGee Green (on Goals):
  “Write those goals, those dreams down… make them into a collage if you want to, but something that you can look at every day to remind you of why you’re doing what you’re doing.” [33:50]

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• 00:00–01:53: Opening introductions, episode framing
• 02:37–04:28: Trailblazer introductions & their business models
• 05:03-07:41: Honest sharing of early struggles
• 12:14–16:34: Role of community, coaching, step-by-step learning
• 17:28–22:05: Mindset shifts, moving from set salaries to abundance
• 23:02–24:52: Sharing about inspiration and support systems
• 25:20–28:37: Reflections on post-COVID education and future trends
• 29:24–31:42: The evolving definition of “freedom” for educators
• 32:12–34:52: Final advice for aspiring CEO teachers

Episode Takeaways

• There are multiple viable business models for teachers: membership, coaching, and courses.
• The transition from educator to entrepreneur is challenging but deeply rewarding; clarity and confidence come through consistent action.
• Community support, step-by-step coaching, and accountability are crucial components to success.
• A shift in mindset—from scarcity to abundance, and from limitation to opportunity—is often the real game changer.
• Defining personal and professional freedom is critical; it looks different for everyone, and it's attainable.
• Start now, take imperfect action, and keep your eyes on your biggest dreams.

This episode is packed with wisdom for teachers searching for their “next step” and wanting to see real, actionable examples of success. The stories and advice offer essential perspective for anyone ready to reimagine their teacher life, inside or outside the classroom.