Hey Reader,

Before we jump into this week's topic, could you do me a huge favor? A few weeks ago, I mentioned the new podcast I am co-hosting. I would be so appreciative if you could leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts. It helps us get more visibility for the podcast and therefore help more entrepreneurs like you. Thank you in advance!

• ​Rate & review on Apple Podcasts​
• ​Rate on Spotify​

If you do decide to leave a rating and/or review, please hit 'reply' and let me know so I can thank you, because I truly do appreciate it.

Ok, now let's get into it...

Did you know that more than 50% of new businesses fail within the first 5 years?

It gets even worse in years 6-10. 🫣

We’ve been growing Teach Better for 10 years now, which is just crazy to me. Has it been smooth sailing for the nearly decade we've been trying to figure this thing out? Hell no. It's been a crazy ride with more twists and turns than we could have ever expected.

But, we're still here after 10 years. That puts us in a category with a very small percentage of businesses.

Before I go any further, I have never, and will absolutely never, claim to be an expert in business (or anything for that matter), but we have learned a few key lessons over the years, and I wanted to share just 3 of them with you here.

So here are 3 things I would share with anyone starting a business today.

1. Know your numbers & focus on cash flow.

We are a self-funded company. Bootstrapped since day one. We started with less than $500. We are not working to position ourselves for investors or to go public.

What I've realized is that most of the typical accounting things people talk about are simply not that crucial to your business until and unless you have investors or are looking to sell your company.

I look at 3 numbers every day:

• How much money is coming in (where is it coming from, and when will it come in)
• How much is going out (where, when, and why)
• When do we run out of cash?

Every decision should include looking at these numbers. If you know those 3 things, and focus on them, all the other numbers will usually be where you want them.

Your company valuation doesn't mean much if you don't have enough money to make it to the day someone will invest in you. And a balance sheet won’t help if you don’t know what money is coming in or when it goes out.

Simplify your numbers and focus on the ones that matter right now.

2. Listen to your business & those you serve.

We’ve tried to only create new products/services when our community asked for them. We’re focused on scaling only when the business demands it. We work hard to learn the lyrics of our community so we can better serve them. (See Pat Flynn ’s “Superfans” for more on learning the lyrics)

We've also cut things, changed ideas, and said no to a lot of shiny objects because they did not align with what our community was telling us they needed.

3. Focus on the mission, not the product/service.

So many things can impact your business, how you survive, and what your work looks like. Don't get tied to a product, service, or way in which you operate.

Focus on your mission. How you get there will change. Be flexible and be ready to adjust.

Never Stop Learning

There are a million other things we’ve learned, re-learned, forgotten, and then learned again, but these are 3 of the most important, in my opinion. I’d love to hear what you’ve learned, what you’re focused on. Hit 'reply' and let me know. And, of course, let me know if I can ever support you.

I hope this helps

~ Jeff

*Keep scrolling for I’m listening to, links to check out, and a content creation idea! I appreciate you. Jeff Gargas COO / Co-Founder, Teach Better Team ​​​​​ P.S. When you're ready, here's how I can help: 🤝 Need accountability and 1-on-1 coaching? Let's connect and see if there's a fit. Click here to book a free 30-minute call.​ 💚 Looking for support, collaboration, and exclusive resources? Join the EDUcreator Club+ Community. Click here to save with special Founder's pricing.​

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🎧 What I'm listening to:

• ​Creator Science #241: Lara Acosta — How LinkedIn’s fastest-growing female creator uses the platform ​

⚡️Things to Check Out

📸 Instagram likes: Why they matter, and how to get more in 2025.

• Instagram likes are still a big deal. They’re one of the top three factors Instagram’s algorithm uses to decide how far your post will go. More likes = more reach.
• Don’t buy Instagram likes (seriously, don’t). Instagram’s algorithm can spot fake engagement, and accounts flagged for scammy activity may never fully recover. Focus on real engagement strategies instead.
• Easy ways to get more likes? Share posts to Stories, work with creators, use Collab posts, and track performance to see what works (then, do more of it).
• 👉 Read the article here.​

👀 Brands building a presence on unexpected platforms.

• With the bans, boycotts and shakeups, consumers are starting to turn to niche platforms like Bluesky and Lemon8.
• See how brands, including Netflix and Louis Vuitton, are thriving with network diversification and tips to navigate the new territory.
• 👉 Read the article here.​

🤔 Podcasters: Are your show notes helping or hurting?

• Done right, show notes boost your podcast’s visibility, support your guests, and even generate revenue through affiliate links or subscriptions.
• Without them, you could be missing out on major growth opportunities.
• From improving discoverability to guiding listeners toward valuable resources, the right show notes can make a big impact.
• In this video, the Buzzsprout team shows us how to write effective show notes and shares 5 free templates to help you get started.
• 👉 Watch the video here.​

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The EDUcreator Club+ Membership gives you access to a community of educators who create content, products, and services to help others increase their impact. The EDUcreator Club+ Membership was built to provide a space for learning, growing, and supporting each other.

Creating & building can get lonely sometimes. Don't do it alone.

What's included:

• Private Community: An active community with hundreds of posts and conversations where educators come together to request feedback, collaborate on new ideas, and support each other as we all work to create and share content that provides value to others.
• Exclusive Events: Join exclusive events, designed to provide you with relevant information and access to world-class content creators and creator economy experts.

Curated Content & Resources: We're curating the best tools, resources, and opportunities related to creating valuable content. Inside, you'll find community challenges, self-paced courses, discounted resources, and more, all easily accessible to you!​
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The EDUcreator Club Newsletter is made possible by our awesome partners. Please consider supporting them. Note: While we may receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made via the below link, we will never recommend a product, service, or brand we do not believe in.

💡CONTENT CREATION IDEA

A Mistake You Didn’t See Coming

A really engaging and valuable types of content is sharing the mistakes you’ve made, especially the ones you didn’t expect, didn't think you would recover from, and learned the most from.

Think about a time when:

• You followed common advice and it didn’t work for you.
• You overlooked something small that ended up being a big deal.
• You spent way too much time (or money) on something that wasn’t worth it.
• You assumed something would be easy…and it definitely wasn’t.

Sharing mistakes makes you relatable, builds trust, and helps your audience avoid the same pitfalls. Plus, and trust me on this one, it's a never-ending stream of ideas for content.

ENJOYING THIS NEWSLETTER?

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(click the answer that best fits)

• ​The stories and ideas you share in each.​
• ​What you're listening to.​
• ​Things to Check Out​
• ​Content Creation Ideas​

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