Hey Reader,

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of things, started a lot of businesses, and had a lot of titles: record label founder, janitorial manager, fast food manager, concert club co-owner, marketing firm entrepreneur, and now, COO of a thriving 7-figure consulting business.

Some of those ventures succeeded, and plenty of them didn’t. Some of those titles spark some really great memories for me. Some of them don't.

But every single one taught me a ton of valuable lessons and helped me be ready for what I do today.

I've done some really cool things. I know how to do a lot of things, and I do a lot of them really well. We've had a lot of success. We've had an incredible impact of thousands of teachers and millions of students.

And yet, with every decision I make, every time I speak to a group of educators, every time I bring new ideas to our team, there’s a voice in my head whispering:

• “You’ll never make it.”
• “You’re not smart enough.”
• “You’ll fail, just like before.”

Sound familiar?

If you’re building something as an EDUcreator, I’m betting you’ve heard voices like these, too:

• “You’re just a teacher.”
• “Why are you trying to start a business?”
• “Stay in your lane.”

These voices can be relentless. They show up uninvited and stick around longer than they’re welcome. So, how do we deal with them?

Step 1: Recognize that Those Voices Are NOT Yours.

Sure, they probably sound like you, but they’re not you. They’re echoes from other people—society, well-meaning loved ones, or individuals projecting their own fears onto you.

Once you realize this, it’s a lot easier to separate their negativity from your truth.
(note: I said 'easier' not 'easy')

Step 2: Surround Yourself with Better Voices.

This one is a game-changer. Find voices that lift you up instead of dragging you down—voices of optimism, encouragement, and possibility.

• Spend more time with people who believe in you.
• Dive into inspiring podcasts, join masterminds, or connect with accountability groups.
• Seek out communities where people get what you’re doing and cheer you on. (click here to join ours)

I won’t promise any of this is quick or easy. It takes time and intention. But as you fill your world with positivity and support, those nagging voices of doubt will get quieter.

Will they disappear entirely? Probably not.

We all have moments of doubt—it’s part of being human. But when you’re surrounded by the right people and the right influences, those voices lose their power.

I’d love to know—how do you handle the voices of self-doubt?

Hit "reply" and share your strategies with me. Let’s keep lifting each other up.

​

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:

• ​The Embodied Marketing Podcast episode 688: 7 Marketing Predictions You Need For 2025.​​

⚡️Things to Check Out

🤖 10 Chat-GPT prompt writing styles from beginner to mater.

• Maximizing the effectiveness of your interactions with large language models such as OpenAI’s requires mastering the art of ChatGPT prompt writing.
• By evolving from basic inquiries to more structured techniques, you can significantly enhance the AI’s performance, transforming it into a powerful tool for both simple and complex tasks.
• 👉 Read the article here.​

🧭 How marketers plan to navigate the “Muskification” of social media.

• Meta is borrowing a page from Elon Musk’s X on free speech and censorship, but advertisers aren’t hitting the panic button — yet.
• Instead, marketers are in wait-and see mode, hoping for clearer guidance on what content Meta will still police.
• So far, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has offered them little beyond vague assurances, leaving the details up in the air.
• Will reduced censorship and fewer checks on misinformation create a space for open dialogue?
• 👉 Read the article here.​

🍋 As the TikTok ban looms, TikTik promotes Lemon8 in the U.S.

• TikTok's sister app, Lemon8, has been sponsoring posts on TikTok encouraging users to migrate to Lemon8 amid a looming ban threat.
• ByteDance could be betting that regulators and app store companies are so focused on TikTok that they won't pay attention to its other apps.
• ByteDance would probably like to build Lemon8's user base even if TikTok isn't banned.
• In November, TikTok began informing users of its sister app, Lemon8, that beginning late that month Lemon8 would be powered by TikTok, and their TikTok usernames would also be used on Lemon8.
• 👉 Read the article.​

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

EDUcreator Club+ Community

A Community for Educators Who create

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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💡CONTENT CREATION IDEA

"Your Audience’s Biggest Challenges"

Focus on your audience’s pain points or challenges.

Here’s how you can turn this into a steady stream of content ideas:

1. Ask Directly: Post a poll, question, or survey on social media or send an email asking, “What’s your biggest struggle with [your niche] right now?”
2. Analyze Common Themes: Look at responses to identify recurring challenges. For example, if multiple people say, “I don’t know how to find time to work on my side hustle,” that’s a clear content idea.
3. Create Solutions: Each challenge can become a piece of content—whether it’s a quick tip, a step-by-step guide, or a personal story about how you have overcome a similar issue.
4. Repeat Regularly: Revisit this strategy every few months to keep ideas fresh and aligned with what your audience needs most.

This approach helps you generate highly relevant content while showing your audience that you are listening and providing real value.

ENJOYING THIS NEWSLETTER?

What parts of this newsletter do you get the most value out of? ​
(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​

Thanks!

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