Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mike Estela, Owner of ChiliMath, located in Dallas, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I write online math tutorials for students, adult learners, and anyone else who needs to brush up on their math skills. I want the math content to be interesting and engaging so that people will stay on my site longer.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in the Philippines. I arrived in the United States back in 1998. Four years later, I decided to enlist in the US Air Force to serve this wonderful nation and travel the globe. I completed my mathematics degree while serving in the military. I separated from the military after six years of active duty to pursue my other interest—teaching. I taught secondary math for a few years and loved it! While teaching, I started ChiliMath as a side hobby to supplement my lessons in the classroom for my students. As the traffic to my humble website started growing, I realized I could be more effective if I taught math online so I could reach more people worldwide. With a heavy heart, I left teaching to pursue my dream of working for myself. With AdThrive's help, I can focus on creating math tutorials helpful to students without worrying about how to monetize my site. Until today, it is humbling to live each day doing what I love in the comfort of my home.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a classroom teacher, I have at least 100 students in my classes every month. As a content creator, I now teach thousands of people every month. For me, that's a very humbling experience.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Publishing fresh material on a consistent basis is the lifeblood of my business. At times, I just don't have the drive to get anything done. When this happens, I always reassure myself that everything is fine. It's only for a short time. When I'm having a tough time, that's when I find it most useful to keep a journal because that's when I learn the most valuable lessons in life.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't be afraid to fail because each failure is a step closer to success.
  2. Don't overanalyze. Just get started. Sometimes you will learn more when you are actually doing it.
  3. Take care of your physical and mental health. When your body and mind are in perfect shape, you're unstoppable.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.chilimath.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBQ00RHx6BYL11pB10ZNydg
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/chilimathdotcom/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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