Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lisa Marie Fletcher, Owner of The Canadian Homeschooler, located in Toronto, ON, CA.

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

The mission of The Canadian Homeschooler is to connect homeschoolers across Canada with each other and with resources that help them on their journey. Homeschooling can be challenging, and my goal is to help make it as smooth as possible.

Tell us about yourself

When I first started homeschooling my kids, I felt overwhelmed. I did what so many people do when they begin - I just did it the way someone else I knew was doing. I bought the curriculum they used and tried to do school at home. I realized pretty quickly that wasn't a great fit for our family and went on a search for something different. As a Canadian, most homeschooling resources were American, so I began a search to find and share things I found from a Canadian perspective. That began my website. After a few years, it shifted from just sharing things I'd found to creating resources to fill in gaps I saw and has grown from there. Today I have a book on How to Homeschool in Canada, a community, a bunch of different curriculum courses and printable resources, a second website, and an annual online homeschool conference.

I love that I get to be a big part of helping people find their feet on the homeschooling path and that they can start with the confidence many of us wish we'd had. I love that I've learned so much about Canada through this experience in ways that I never enjoyed as a student myself.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In August 2022, The Canadian Homeschooler will be 12 years old. That's a pretty amazing accomplishment, I feel. I've seen so many blogs, companies, and websites come and go over the years, but somehow I've managed to keep chipping away.

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

That myth of balance. I am a homeschooling mom with five kids. I have a lot of things to include in my day. It feels like a constant job of spinning plates when you have to figure out how to find time to work, school the kids, clean the house, spend time with your spouse, and remember to set aside time for yourself, what to feed people... There are lots of demands on your time and energy. I don't think I've successfully figured this part out. I'm not sure I ever will because things change every day. It's about learning how to prioritize what needs attention in each moment and doing the best you can.

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

  1. Learn and know your audience. Who are they? What do they need? What do they want? Are you able to provide those things? Spend time listening to their conversations and what's being said behind the scenes. Don't "sell" to them. Talk with them and help solve their problems.
  2. Don't play the hamster wheel game, or you will burn out. There's a lot of advice out there on how you "should" be doing a million things to make your business successful. It is so incredibly easy to get caught up in long checklists of things you have to do every day and then forget the mission you have. That never ending wheel will burn you out faster than a match. Take small steps. Succeed at one thing and then try something else. Don't be afraid to do things your way - instead of what everyone else is doing just because it seems like the "it" thing.
  3. Owning your own business should be considered a long game. Overnight successes don't happen overnight. Prepare yourself for the journey ahead and be willing to move at a much slower pace than you really would like it to be.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

My business friends like to tease me because I always say I'm chipping away at my to-do list, but I really do think that's a way to success. I only have a few gaps in my day to accomplish the things I want and need to with my business. Making a list of what I need to do and then picking things off in the moments and gaps I have within my day is the only way I've ever been able to make the strides I have over the years. You'd be amazed what you can do with a 5-minute window if you know exactly what tasks you need to complete. So brain dump regularly, make the lists, and get chipping away on your project to reveal the beautiful sculpture of your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3RuyGce
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3IyUUWg

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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